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Rassmusen's encephalitis
Epidemiology:
1) rare
2) generally occurs in children under the age of 10
Pathology:
1) progressive neurologic disorder
2) affects a single brain hemisphere
Clinical manifestations:
1) frequent & severe seizures
2) loss of motor skills
3) aphasia
4) hemiparesis 5 encephalitis
6) dementia
7) mental deterioration
Management:
1) hemispherectomy to remove or disconnect the affected part of the brain when seizures have not spontaneously remitted by the time hemiparesis & aphasia are complete,
2) anticonvulsants are usually not effective
3) alternative treatments
a) plasmapheresis
b) ketogenic diet
c) steroids
Prognosis:
1) severe neurological deficits including mental retardation & paralysis if untreated
2) in some patients, surgery decreases seizures
3) most patients have residual paralysis & speech deficits
General
encephalitis
References
- NINDS Rasmussen's Encephalitis Information Page
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Rasmussens-Encephalitis-Information-Page