101: StAR: Acute Encephalitis

In this episode of Febrile, host Sara Dong and guests Dr. Karen Bloch, Dr. Carol Glaser, Dr. Arun Venkatesan, and Dr. David Gaston discuss encephalitis, differentiating it from meningitis, and delve into a case of a 30-year-old veterinarian presenting with headache, fever, and seizures. The discussion covers common and less common etiologies based on geographic location and animal exposures, diagnostic approaches including molecular testing, and the importance of considering autoimmune encephalitis following infectious encephalitis. The panel emphasizes the challenges in diagnosis, the limitations of molecular tests, and the need for collaborative work between clinicians and the lab. They also highlight treatable causes of encephalitis like syphilis and Balamuthia mandrillis, and the importance of follow-up care due to the potential evolution of symptoms.