脑炎是指伴有神经功能障碍(例如意识状态改变、癫痫发作、人格改变、颅神经麻痹、言语障碍以及运动和感觉障碍)的脑实质炎症。
[1]
Venkatesan A, Michael BD, Probasco JC, et al. Acute encephalitis in immunocompetent adults. Lancet. 2019 Feb 16;393(10172):702-16.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30782344?tool=bestpractice.com
它是脑组织炎症的直接结果,而不是脑膜的炎症(脑膜炎),而且可能由感染性或非感染性病因导致。仅能查出约 50% 病例的致病原因。
[2]
Venkatesan A, Tunkel AR, Bloch KC, et al. Case definitions, diagnostic algorithms, and priorities in encephalitis: consensus statement of the International Encephalitis Consortium. Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Oct;57(8):1114-28.
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/57/8/1114/529190/Case-Definitions-Diagnostic-Algorithms-and
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23861361?tool=bestpractice.com
[3]
Granerod J, Tam CC, Crowcroft NS, et al. Challenge of the unknown: a systematic review of acute encephalitis in non-outbreak situations. Neurology. 2010 Sep 7;75(10):924-32.