scholarly journals Acute encephalitis as initial presentation of leptospirosis

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (04) ◽  
pp. 361-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edmond Puca ◽  
Joana Majko ◽  
Entela Puca ◽  
Elda Qyra ◽  
Arjet Gega ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Inflammation ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Initial Presentation ◽  
Viral Pathogens ◽  
Acute Encephalitis ◽  
Life Threatening Illness ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
The Brain

Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain matter, very often associated with viral infections, but it can also be caused by non-viral pathogens such as leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a systemic disease caused by bacteria of the Leptospira genus. Leptospiral infection has a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from subclinical or mild illness to a fulminant life-threatening illness. In this case report we describe a young patient from Southern Albania with isolated encephalitis caused by Leptospira, where acute encephalitis was the initial presentation of the disease.

scholarly journals Dengue infection in mice inoculated by the intracerebral route: neuropathological effects and identification of target cells for virus replication

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. S. Amorim ◽  
A. S. Azevedo ◽  
S. M. Costa ◽  
G. F. Trindade ◽  
C. A. Basílio-de-Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Infection ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Histopathological Analysis ◽  
Mice Model ◽  
Pia Mater ◽  
Neurological Morbidity ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Brain

AbstractDengue is an important arboviral infection, causing a broad range symptom that varies from life-threatening mild illness to severe clinical manifestations. Recent studies reported the impairment of the central nervous system (CNS) after dengue infection, a characteristic previously considered as atypical and underreported. However, little is known about the neuropathology associated to dengue. Since animal models are important tools for helping to understand the dengue pathogenesis, including neurological damages, the aim of this work was to investigate the effects of intracerebral inoculation of a neuroadapted dengue serotype 2 virus (DENV2) in immunocompetent BALB/c mice, mimicking some aspects of the viral encephalitis. Mice presented neurological morbidity after the 7th day post infection. At the same time, histopathological analysis revealed that DENV2 led to damages in the CNS, such as hemorrhage, reactive gliosis, hyperplastic and hypertrophied microglia, astrocyte proliferation, Purkinje neurons retraction and cellular infiltration around vessels in the pia mater and in neuropil. Viral tropism and replication were detected in resident cells of the brain and cerebellum, such as neurons, astrocyte, microglia and oligodendrocytes. Results suggest that this classical mice model might be useful for analyzing the neurotropic effect of DENV with similarities to what occurs in human.

Aids-Associated Viral Infections

1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1098-1099
Author(s):  
Sara E. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Immune Defense ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Aids Patients ◽  
Viral Pathogens ◽  
Thin Sectioning ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Life Threatening

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) eventually causes a profound decrease in the body's ability to eradicate or control infections with microorganisms, including viruses. Some infections in AIDS patients are due to common organisms which are of little significance in immunocompetent individuals. Other organisms can be harbored continuously, occasionally causing disease, but normally being suppressed after a heightened immune defense; in AIDS patients, these infections can be life-threatening. Further, practices that predispose to HIV infection also permit entry of other organisms, such as hepatitis and herpesviruses. Electron microscopy is beneficial as an adjunct to other modalities for viral detection. Methods for identifying viruses, both in fluids by negative staining and in tissues by thin sectioning, have been published. Some viral pathogens, including HIV itself, are best documented by other means.HIV has been demonstrated by EM in infected individuals, but because it destroys and makes scarce the cells for which it has an affinity, it is difficult to find them.

scholarly journals Convalescent Plasma: A Potential Treatment for COVID-19

2020 ◽  
pp. 109-115
Author(s):  
Mohiuddin Ahmed Khan ◽  
Mafruha Akter
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Adaptive Immune Response ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Neutralization Activity ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Life Threatening Illness ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Specific Standard

As no specific standard therapies have been approved for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), so prevention and supportive care dominate the approach to COVID-19. Exposure to this severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) results in an adaptive immune response that commonly include antibodies with neutralization activity. Treatments directly targeting the virus and the inflammatory response to it remain investigational. Convalescent plasma (CP) is such a therapy that had been reported hundred years back in studies from the Spanish influenza era. So the idea of convalescent plasma from subjects who have recovered from viral infections has been used to both prevent or treat disease. Over the past two decades’ notable examples of the successful use of convalescent plasma (CP) include influenza, measles, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), Ebola and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Two case series were recently published by China examining the therapeutic use of CP in patients with COVID-19. In the context of pandemic situation, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed to use COVID-19 convalescent plasma as Investigational New Drug (IND) since April 2020 to help patients with serious or immediately life-threatening illness associated with COVID- 19. Case series studying convalescent plasma use in the treatment of COVID-19 have been promising, but additional, high-quality studies are needed to determine the efficacy of the treatment when applied for prophylaxis, for early phases of illness and for severe illness. Bangladesh also started program to use convalescent plasma for severe and critical COVID-19 patients under limited clinical trial. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2020; 38(0): 109-115

scholarly journals Etiology and risk factors of early and late onset neonatal sepsis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tariq Homoud Althagafi ◽  
Mona Abdullah Alharbi ◽  
Ashjan Nasser Bamarhool ◽  
Zahra Dheya Almajed ◽  
Leen Hani Natto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Neonatal Sepsis ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Lead Levels ◽  
Total Birth Rate

Neonatal sepsis is a systemic disease caused by bacterial organisms, viral infections, or fungus that causes hemodynamic abnormalities and other clinical symptoms resulting in severe complications and may progress into mortality. Parturition can be used to diagnose organisms caused by the premature onset of sepsis in some cases, but only after an average of three days of life. Clinical manifestations of infection may also diagnose the organisms caused by the early onset of sepsis. Late sepsis can refer to any incident of sepsis from delivery to discharge in high-risk newborns, and the majority of them have been hospitalized for a lengthy period. Late-onset Guillain-Barré syndrome infections generally refer to the infections that occur between one week and up to three months post-labor. The precise load fraction for newborn sepsis varies by context, with differing load estimations between nations with varying lead levels. With the diversity of treatments utilized, explaining the degree of obstetric palsy is crucial and complicated. When comparing birthing sepsis rates, it is critical to understand if a tiny figure represents a total birth rate or another rate, such as a hospital admission number. As stated, it is critical to evaluate if population estimates based on the numbers of neonatal sepsis episodes have been recorded. This article aims to review the literature regarding neonatal sepsis from different aspects including, the etiology, risk factors, and different types and onset of neonatal sepsis.

scholarly journals Understanding and managing acute encephalitis

F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashmi Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Viral Infections ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Specific Treatment ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalitis ◽  
Severe Case ◽  
World Health ◽  
The West ◽  
Abnormal Movements ◽  
Acute Encephalitis ◽  
The Brain

Encephalitis is an important cause of morbidity, mortality, and permanent neurologic sequelae  globally. Causes are diverse and include viral and non-viral infections of the brain as well as autoimmune processes. In the West, the autoimmune encephalitides are now more common than any single infectious cause, but, in Asia, infectious causes are still more common. In 2006, the World Health Organization coined the term “acute encephalitis syndrome”, which simply means acute onset of fever with convulsions or altered consciousness or both. In 2013, the International Encephalitis Consortium set criteria for diagnosis of encephalitis on basis of clinical and laboratory features. The most important infectious cause in the West is herpes simplex virus, but globally Japanese encephalitis (JE) remains the single largest cause. Etiologic diagnosis is difficult because of the large number of agents that can cause encephalitis. Also, the responsible virus may be detectable only in the brain and is either absent or transiently found in blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Virological diagnosis is complex, expensive, and time-consuming. Different centres could make their own algorithms for investigation in accordance with the local etiologic scenarios. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalography are specific for few agents. Clinically, severity may vary widely. A severe case may manifest with fever, convulsions, coma, neurologic deficits, and death. Autoimmune encephalitis (AIE)  includes two major categories: (i) classic paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (LE) with autoantibodies against intracellular neuronal antigens (Eg: Hu and Ma2) and (ii) new-type AIE with autoantibodies to neuronal surface or synaptic antigens (Eg: anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor). AIE has prominent psychiatric manifestations: psychosis, aggression, mutism, memory loss, euphoria, or fear. Seizures, cognitive decline, coma, and abnormal movements are common. Symptoms may fluctuate rapidly. Treatment is largely supportive. Specific treatment is available for herpesvirus group and non-viral infections. Various forms of immunotherapy are used for AIE.

Severe pre-eclampsia: it’s recognition and management

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry NJ Walters ◽  
Theresa Mittermeier
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Close Monitoring ◽  
Life Threatening Illness ◽  
Life Threatening

<p>This article deals with certain aspects of the disorder that have not been as well covered in the literature as other elements. The clinical manifestations are manifold, variable and sometimes, if unrecognised, can have unfortunate results. The first truism to accept is that there is no such entity as ‘mild’ pre-eclampsia. All cases have the potential to undergo a transition to a life-threatening illness for mother and baby and, therefore, close monitoring as an inpatient is essential. </p>

Congenital and Perinatal Viral Infections

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. Bale
Keyword(s):  
Viral Infections ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis ◽  
Neonatal Infections ◽  
Viral Pathogens ◽  
Varicella Zoster ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Simplex Virus

Despite remarkable advancements in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, congenital (also known as intrauterine) and perinatal (also known as neonatal) infections remain major causes of permanent neurodevelopmental disabilities worldwide. Fortunately, relatively few viral pathogens can infect the developing fetus or the newborn postnatally and induce neurological disease. These pathogens include cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, varicella zoster virus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, the nonpolio enteroviruses, parechovirus, and human immunodeficiency virus. This chapter describes the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of these congenital and perinatal viral infections.

scholarly journals Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Cerebral Toxoplasmosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hany M. Elsheikha ◽  
Christina M. Marra ◽  
Xing-Quan Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Toxoplasmic Encephalitis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cerebral Toxoplasmosis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Diagnosis And Management ◽  
Critical Areas ◽  
Immunosuppressed Patients ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
The Brain

SUMMARY Toxoplasma gondii is known to infect a considerable number of mammalian and avian species and a substantial proportion of the world’s human population. The parasite has an impressive ability to disseminate within the host’s body and employs various tactics to overcome the highly regulatory blood-brain barrier and reside in the brain. In healthy individuals, T. gondii infection is largely tolerated without any obvious ill effects. However, primary infection in immunosuppressed patients can result in acute cerebral or systemic disease, and reactivation of latent tissue cysts can lead to a deadly outcome. It is imperative that treatment of life-threatening toxoplasmic encephalitis is timely and effective. Several therapeutic and prophylactic regimens have been used in clinical practice. Current approaches can control infection caused by the invasive and highly proliferative tachyzoites but cannot eliminate the dormant tissue cysts. Adverse events and other limitations are associated with the standard pyrimethamine-based therapy, and effective vaccines are unavailable. In this review, the epidemiology, economic impact, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of cerebral toxoplasmosis are discussed, and critical areas for future research are highlighted.

scholarly journals The Role of Immunogenetics in COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2636
Author(s):  
Fanny Pojero ◽  
Giuseppina Candore ◽  
Calogero Caruso ◽  
Danilo Di Bona ◽  
David A. Groneberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Drug Repurposing ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
History Of ◽  
Treatment Plans ◽  
And Function

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is induced by SARS-CoV-2 and may arise as a variety of clinical manifestations, ranging from an asymptomatic condition to a life-threatening disease associated with cytokine storm, multiorgan and respiratory failure. The molecular mechanism behind such variability is still under investigation. Several pieces of experimental evidence suggest that genetic variants influencing the onset, maintenance and resolution of the immune response may be fundamental in predicting the evolution of the disease. The identification of genetic variants behind immune system reactivity and function in COVID-19 may help in the elaboration of personalized therapeutic strategies. In the frenetic look for universally shared treatment plans, those genetic variants that are common to other diseases/models may also help in addressing future research in terms of drug repurposing. In this paper, we discuss the most recent updates about the role of immunogenetics in determining the susceptibility to and the history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We propose a narrative review of available data, speculating about lessons that we have learnt from other viral infections and immunosenescence, and discussing what kind of aspects of research should be deepened in order to improve our knowledge of how host genetic variability impacts the outcome for COVID-19 patients.

scholarly journals Osteomyelitis and Septic Arthritis Due to Burkholderia pseudomallei: A 10-Year Retrospective Melioidosis Study From South China

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua Wu ◽  
Xuming Wang ◽  
Xiaojun Zhou ◽  
Shaowen Chen ◽  
Wenhui Mai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Septic Arthritis ◽  
Antibiotic Treatment ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Burkholderia Pseudomallei ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Gender Ratio ◽  
Common Risk Factor ◽  
Life Threatening

Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, endemic mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. Its clinical manifestation is broad ranging from a localized skin lesion to a life-threatening systemic disease. Osteomyelitis and septic arthritis caused by B. pseudomallei are a rare, fatal illness, whose clinical features have not been illustrated in mainland China. Over 10 years (2010 to 2019), of 334 culture-confirmed melioidosis in Hainan province, China, 44 patients (13.2%) were confirmed to have osteomyelitis and septic arthritis through the combination of clinical features, imaging examination and microbiological culture. Herein, we summarized these 44 patients’ clinical manifestations, demographical features, antibiotic treatment, and outcomes. Of them, osteomyelitis and septic arthritis accounted for 25 (56.8%) and 15 (34.1%), respectively, and 4 patients (9.1%) had both. The gender ratio of male/female was approximately 13.7:1; diabetes mellitus was the most common risk factor (38/44, 86.4%); imipenem and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole were the most frequently used antibiotics. Most B. pseudomallei strains were isolated from blood samples (41/44, 93.2%). After surgical handling, antibiotic treatment, or both, 9 patients died, with a mortality rate of 20.5%. In summary, in melioidosis endemic areas, for patients with both localized manifestations of joint and bone and a positive B. pseudomallei blood culture, increased awareness is required for melioidotic osteomyelitis and septic arthritis.

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