St. Louis encephalitis

Introduction

Viral encephalitis transmitted by mosquito or chicken mite.

Clinical manifestations

• incubation 4-21 days
• sudden onset high fever
• severe headache
• stiff neck
• lethargy
• confusion
• dysarthria
• nausea/vomiting
• tremor
  • tongue
  • lips
  • hands
• ataxia
• spastic paralysis
• accentuated deep tendon reflexes (DTR)
• absence of abdominal reflexes

Laboratory

• complete blood count (CBC)
  • mild leukocytosis
  • relative lymphocytosis
• demonstration of virus by animal innoculation
• serology
  • complement-fixation
  • neutralizing antibodies
• cerebrospinal fluid
  • increased pressure
  • increased globulins
  • lymphocytosis

More general terms

• viral encephalitis

Additional terms

• St. Louis encephalitis virus