title: Case definitions, diagnostic algorithms, and priorities in encephalitis: consensus statement of the international encephalitis consortium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Encephalitis continues to result in substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Advances in diagnosis and management have been limited, in part, by a lack of consensus on case definitions, standardized diagnostic approaches, and priorities for research.
  
  
  METHODS
  In March 2012, the International Encephalitis Consortium, a committee begun in 2010 with members worldwide, held a meeting in Atlanta to discuss recent advances in encephalitis and to set priorities for future study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We present a consensus document that proposes a standardized case definition and diagnostic guidelines for evaluation of adults and children with suspected encephalitis. In addition, areas of research priority, including host genetics and selected emerging infections, are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We anticipate that this document, representing a synthesis of our discussions and supported by literature, will serve as a practical aid to clinicians evaluating patients with suspected encephalitis and will identify key areas and approaches to advance our knowledge of encephalitis.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Encephalitis Center, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venkatesan
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Tunkel
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lauring
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sejvar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bitnun
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mailles
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drebot
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rupprecht
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoder
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cope
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Whitley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Granerod
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eastwood
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Durrheim
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Solbrig
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo-Dong
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Glaser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans
keywords: autoimmune; encephalitis; guidelines; host genetics; viral