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SynopsisCodesLook ForDiagnostic PearlsDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsManagement PearlsTherapyDrug Reaction DataReferences
Potentially life-threatening emergency
Meningoencephalitis
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Potentially life-threatening emergency

Meningoencephalitis

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Contributors: Andrea Wasilewski MD, Richard L. Barbano MD, PhD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

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Synopsis

Meningoencephalitis : Seizures, Fever, Headache, Coma, Mental status alteration, Neck pain, Nuchal rigidity, Focal neurologic deficit
Meningoencephalitis is inflammation of the meninges and brain. Patients present with encephalitis and associated meningitis, both of which are most commonly infectious in etiology. Clinically, patients present with symptoms of meningitis, including fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and nuchal rigidity, as well as those of encephalitis, including abnormalities in brain function, altered mental status, personality changes, behavioral changes, sensory deficits, motor deficits, speech disorders, hemiparesis, flaccid paralysis, and paresthesias. Common causes include bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoan pathogens, and further testing is guided by history, physical examination, and clinical presentation.

Immunocompromised patients, children, and elderly patients are at higher risk for infectious meningoencephalitis with specific pathogens. Meningoencephalitis also has noninfectious etiologies, including traumatic (irritation from blood), drug induced, sarcoidosis related, and carcinomatous.

There are reports of meningoencephalitis following exposure to Zika virus.

Codes

ICD10CM:
G04.90 – Encephalitis and encephalomyelitis, unspecified

SNOMEDCT:
7125002 – Meningoencephalitis

Look For

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Diagnostic Pearls

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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

Best Tests

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Management Pearls

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Therapy

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Drug Reaction Data

Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.

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References

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Last Reviewed:05/17/2018
Last Updated:06/21/2018
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Potentially life-threatening emergency
Meningoencephalitis
Print  
A medical illustration showing key findings of Meningoencephalitis : Seizures, Fever, Headache, Coma, Mental status alteration, Neck pain, Nuchal rigidity, Focal neurologic deficit
Copyright © 2023 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.