Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Viral encephalitis physical examination
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain, commonly caused by a viral infection. It may present as focal or diffuse neurological manifestations. The signs may include altered mental status, change in personality, meningismus, ataxia, seizures, and cranial nerve involvement. Stiff neck, due to the irritation of the meninges covering the brain, indicates that the patient has either meningitis or meningeoncephalitis.
Physical Examination
Physical Examination
Appearance
- Altered sensorium
- Personality changes
Skin
- Herpetic skin lesions
Head
- Bulging fontanelles
Eyes
- Jaundice in Herpes simplex encephalitis
- Keratoconjunctivitis
Throat
- Herpetic lesions in tongue and buccal mucosa (mouth ulcers)
Abdomen
Neurologic
Focal neurological signs are found commonly in patients with Herpes simplex encephalitis. Common findings in encephalitis are:
- Cranial nerve palsy
- Autonomic dysfunction
- Hemiparesis
- Meningismus
- Dystonia
- Ataxia
- Abnormal reflexes
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, MBBS [2]; Anthony Gallo, B.S. [3]