Rassmusen's encephalitis

Epidemiology

• rare
• generally occurs in children under the age of 10

Pathology

• progressive neurologic disorder
• affects a single brain hemisphere

Clinical manifestations

• frequent & severe seizures
• loss of motor skills
• aphasia
• hemiparesis 5 encephalitis
• dementia
• mental deterioration

Management

• hemispherectomy to remove or disconnect the affected part of the brain when seizures have not spontaneously remitted by the time hemiparesis & aphasia are complete,
• anticonvulsants are usually not effective
• alternative treatments
  • plasmapheresis
  • ketogenic diet
  • steroids

Prognosis:

• severe neurological deficits including mental retardation & paralysis if untreated
• in some patients, surgery decreases seizures
• most patients have residual paralysis & speech deficits

More general terms

• encephalitis

Patient information

Rassmussen's encephalitis patient information