a diabetic male with ams, fever, and hallucinations

A Diabetic Male with A Diabetic Male with AMS, Fever, and AMS, Fever, and HallucinationsHallucinations

Edward P. Sloan, MD, MPH

Associate Professor

Department of Emergency Medicine

University of Illinois College of MedicineChicago, IL

Attending PhysicianEmergency Medicine

University of Illinois HospitalOur Lady of the Resurrection Hospital

Chicago, IL

Edward P. Sloan, MD, MPH, FACEP

EMS Presentation…

• 51 year old 0028 CFD EMS call for AMS • Per family, high temp, flu-like symptoms • Fever and hallucinations• Hot, flushed, diaphoretic, O x 1• VS 140/P, HR 120, RR 30• Glucose 300

• Hx DM, HTN• Recent viral illness


ED Presentation…

• August 2002, Illinois, 1:01 AM• ED Presentation non-verbal, moaning• Temp 102.2• Viral Sx, N/V/D for 2 days• Taking NSAIDs, refused PMD admit • Responds to verbal, moans “Help me.”


ED History…

• ED Presentation non-verbal, moaning• Temp 102.2• Viral Sx, N/V/D for 2 days• Taking NSAIDs, refused PMD admit • Responds to verbal, moans “Help me.”• No drugs or EtOH history• Hx psoriasis


ED Physical Exam…

• Agitated, confused, combative, diaphoretic• Pupils 2-3 mm, non-reactive; airway OK• Neck supple, no thyromegaly• Cardiopulmonary: tachycardia, tachypnea• Abdomen non-tender• Neuro: CN grossly normal, no motor weakness, tremor, intermittent nystagmus on central gaze• Skin: old psoriasis, no new rash


Clinical QuestionsClinical Questions

• What are the differential diagnoses?• What are the etiologies?• What tests must be performed? • What therapies must be provided?• What consultations are required?• What outcome is likely?


Lumbar PunctureLumbar Puncture

• Are there settings in which a lumbar puncture is NOT to be performed?

• Why?• What are they?


Meningitis RxMeningitis Rx

• What is the optimal initial treatment strategy for the management of presumed meningitis?

• Why?• What microbes are we treating?


Encephalitis RxEncephalitis Rx

• What is the optimal initial treatment strategy for the management of presumed encephalitis?

• When should we empirically give acyclovir?

• What clinical or lumbar puncture findings suggest the need for acyclovir?


ED Management…

• DDx: Viral Sx, AMS• R/o encephalitis, meningitis, sepsis • Need to R/o West Nile Virus (Illinois)• 1:15 Haldol, ativan• 1:25 RSI with etomidate, pavulon, sux• 4:40 Ceftriaxone 2 gr IV• 4:55 Acyclovir 1 gr IV over 1 hour


ED Diagnostics…

• WBC 11,900 Hb 16.1• Glu 313, Bicarb 25, chem ok • 7.33 / 39 / 79 / 22 / 97%• CXR: no clear infiltrate• EKG: sinus tach• UA: no UTI• CT: no lesions• LP: Unable x 2


Consultations…

• Neuro consult: LP under fluoro, EEG• ID consult:

• R/o septic shock, resp failure• R/o staph, given psoriasis• R/o pneumococcal pneumonia• R/o meningitis• R/o toxic or metabolic encephalopathy• Add vancomycin, obtain 2-D echo


Hospital Course…

• LP by neurosurgery: • 20 WBC, 20 RBC, glu 137, protein 32

• ID: viral synd, R/o aseptic meningitis• Day 3: Possible sub-endocardial AMI• Day 3: Seizure, rx with fosphenytoin• Rocephin changed to cefipime, levaquin• Day 9: More responsive, temp to 102.6• Day 10: Maculopapular rash


Hospital Course…

• EEG: Non-specific diffuse slowing• ECHO: LV dysfunction• Blood cultures negative• Repeat CT: maxillary sinus fluid • PCR negative for herpes simplex virus• Tests for systemic vasculitides negative

• Ab for myeloperoxidase• Ab for proteinase-3


Hospital Course…

• Legionella Ag in urine negative• Mycoplasm antibody titre negatvie• Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG, IgA positive• HIV Ab negative• Day 11: West Nile Arbovirus (CSF) +


Patient Outcome…

• PM & R Consult: Comprehensive rehab• Pt extubated, improved neurologically• Pt able to understand plan• Discharge on day 26:

• nursing home/rehab care• able to speak, ambulate• beginning to meet needs

• Seen in ED by same EM MD, doing well


Fever, AMS Differential Dx Fever, AMS Differential Dx

• Encephalitis • Meningitis• Meningoencephalitis• Encephalomyelitis• Sepsis


Viral Encephalitis EtiologiesViral Encephalitis Etiologies

• Arboviruses: mosquitoes, ticks • Herpes viruses:

• Herpes simplex• Epstein-Barr• CMV• Varicella zoster

• Measles virus


Encephalitis PathophysiologyEncephalitis Pathophysiology

• Brain inflammation • Usually caused by a viral etiology• Focal, multi-focal, or diffuse• Cerebral edema, hemorrhage,

neuronal death


Encephalitis PathophysiologyEncephalitis Pathophysiology

• Blood borne CNS infection• Diffuse encephalitis

• Transmitted thru other tissue• Focal infection

• DNA or RNA viruses


Arbovirus EncephalitisArbovirus Encephalitis• Mosquitoes or ticks (vectors)• Vector-transmitted infection• Mosquitoes

•10% encephalitis rate if infected•150 to 3000 cases per year

• Ticks• Rocky Mountain spotted fever• Non-US Russian encephalitis


Herpes Virus EncephalitisHerpes Virus Encephalitis

• Able to lie dormant and reactivate• HSV causes 10-20% of all cases• 2 per 1,000,000 persons per year• Usually HSV-1 from oral herpes• Children, both HSV-1 and –2• Only treatable cause of

encephalitis


Varicella EncephalitisVaricella Encephalitis

• Bad if related to chicken pox • Adults and children• In zoster, less severe unless

immunocompromised• Both types are rare


Epstein-Barr EncephalitisEpstein-Barr Encephalitis

• Related to mononucleosis • Fatigue, sore throat, HA, fever• 1% encephalitis rate• Usually mild


CMV EncephalitisCMV Encephalitis

• 5-10% complication rate • In HIV patients, 50% complicated• Significant mortality


Other Encephalitis Causes Other Encephalitis Causes • Rabies

• Severe, fatal• 16 cases between 1980-91; 8 US

• Measles, influenza• Adenoviruses

• 30% mortality rate if encephalitis• Symptoms of meningitis, coma

• Parasites: raccoons, toxoplasmosis


What is ADEM?What is ADEM?

• Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis• Non-infectious encephalitis • 2-3 weeks after a viral illness• 1/3 of encephalitis cases • Varicella, URIs are common causes• Autoimmune reaction, white matter• Myelin sheath damage, as in MS


Arbovirus EncephalitisArbovirus Encephalitis

• Eastern equine• Western Equine• St Louis• California• Japanese B• West Nile


Arbovirus Encephalitis SxArbovirus Encephalitis Sx• St Louis & West Nile common in US• Less than 1% cause CNS symptoms• Sx 2-14 days post-exposure• Fever, HA, N/V, lethargy• West Nile Virus:

• Maculopapular rash, morbilliform rash• Loss of muscle tone and weakness


Arbovirus Motor SxArbovirus Motor Sx

• Motor disorders common• Severe general weakness• Ataxia, voluntary motor problems• Tremor, partial paralysis• Dysphagia, Broca’s aphasia• Hearing and visual symptoms


Encephalitis SxEncephalitis Sx

• Sudden onset• Meningismus• Stupor, coma• Seizures, partial paralysis• Confusion, psychosis• Speech, memory symptoms


Encephalitis DiagnosisEncephalitis Diagnosis

• Find treatable etiologies• CT: no changes early• MRI: early HSV changes detectable• EEG: temporal lobe HSV changes • LP: elevated WBCs and protein• Labs:

• Leukocytosis, LFTs, coags, chem, tox • Viral cultures


Encephalitis Serum Ab TestsEncephalitis Serum Ab Tests• Virus only at 2-4 days (too early)• Serum Ab titres

• Low early levels• 4-fold increase in convalescent tires• Obtained 3-5 weeks after sx onset

• PCR: will replicate virus DNA• Quick results (hours) • Sensitivity equal to viral culture


Ruling Out Viral MeningitisRuling Out Viral Meningitis

• Self limited• Headache, photosensitivity• Stiff neck• Fever, N/V, fatigue also common • Confusion, psychosis not seen

• Exclude mycoplasma, legionnella


Treating Viral EncephalitisTreating Viral Encephalitis• Antibiotics for presumed meningitis• Acyclovir for presumed HSV Dx• Steroids?• Supportive therapies

• Seizure Rx• Sedation• Airway control• Pain and fever meds


Viral Encephalitis Anti-viralsViral Encephalitis Anti-virals

• Acyclovir for presumed HSV, HZ

• Foscarnet (Foscavir) • When resistant to Acyclovir

• If adverse reaction to Acyclovir

• Foscarnet or gancyclovir in CMV

• Ribavirin (Virazole)


Encephalitis Pt OutcomeEncephalitis Pt Outcome• 25% relapse rate in HSV disease

• ? Due to relapse or new viral illness

• Poorer outcome with:• Age < 1, > 55• Immunocompromise• Pre-existing neurological problem• Specific virus virulence

• Coma does not = bad outcome


Encephalitis Pt OutcomeEncephalitis Pt Outcome

• Outcome related to mental status at the time anti-viral Rx initiated

• Early use is warranted

• Long-term sequelae can occur• Motor, speech, cognitive

• Emotional, personality changes

• Sensory problems (vision, hearing)


Encephalitis VaccinesEncephalitis Vaccines

• Measles vaccine• Varicella vaccine• Rabies vaccine, immunoglobulin• Japanese encephalitis vaccine• Experimental West Nile Virus vaccine


West Nile Virus EncephalitisWest Nile Virus Encephalitis• Mosquito-borne, expanding area• 1/5 mild febrile illness• 1/150 meningitis, encephalitis• Advanced age is greatest risk factor • Clues as to likely WNV infection:

• Infected birds or cases identified• Late summer• Profound muscle weakness


West Nile Virus EncephalitisWest Nile Virus Encephalitis

• IgM Ab testing via Elisa useful • Test of serum or CSF• False positives can occur

• Other flaviviral infections (dengue)• Prior vaccination (yellow fever)

• Rapid reporting is essential

West Nile EcologyWest Nile Ecology


U.S. counties reporting any WNV-infectedbirdsbirds in 19991999 (N = 28 counties)

U.S. Counties Reporting WNV-Positive Dead Birds, 2002*

15,745 birds1,888 counties42 states & D.C.

Edward P. Sloan, MD, MPH, FACEP2003

Edward P. Sloan, MD, MPH, FACEPJune 2004


West Nile VirusWest Nile Virus


WNV Encephalitis DiagnosisWNV Encephalitis Diagnosis

• Leukocytosis, lymphocytopenia• Hyponatremia• CSF pleocytosis, lymphocytes• Elevated CSF protein• Normal CT• MR: enhanced leptomeninges or

periventricular areas


Encephalitis MR FindingsEncephalitis MR Findings• Inflamed portion Inflamed portion

of the temporal of the temporal lobe, involving lobe, involving the uncus and the uncus and adjacent adjacent parahippocampal gyrus, in gyrus, in brightest white brightest white on MR.on MR.

http://www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB/cases/caseM/mr1_t/018.html


WNV Antibody DiagnosisWNV Antibody Diagnosis

• ELISA detection of WNV IgM• 95% CSF WNV IgM rate• IgM does note cross BBB• CSF IgM suggests CNS infection• 90% remain positive if tested within

8 days on symptom onset


WNV Antibody DiagnosisWNV Antibody Diagnosis

• Asymptomatic pts common• In endemic area, IgM could be high• Acute, convalescent titres

• Viral culture low yield• Real-time PCR:

• 55% CSF positive, 10% serum


WNV Encephalitis Pt OutcomeWNV Encephalitis Pt Outcome

• Overall, 4-14% mortality• Age > 70, 15-29% mortality• DM, immunosuppression also predict

worse outcome


WNV Encephalitis PreventionWNV Encephalitis Prevention

• Reducing the # of vector mosquitoes• Draining standing water sites• Methoprene spraying (no maturation)• Adulticides (organophos, pyrethroids)

• Prevent mosquito bites• 50% DEET, 10% DEET in children• Permethrin to clothing, fabrics• Citronella (less effective)


Key Learning PointsKey Learning Points

• AMS, fever, weakness: encephalitis• Know clues for West Nile virus• Early use of ceftriaxone, acyclovir• Supportive care essential• Consultation for best diagnostics• Reportable public health disease • Prevention is best approach


Key Learning PointsKey Learning Points

• No LP if there is a herniation risk• Abnormal posturing, exam• Abnormal CT

• Ceftriaxone 2 gr, vancomycin 1 gr• LP in encephalitis: WBCs,

lymphocytes, no bacteria• Acyclovir with any encephalitis risk

Questions?Questions?

www.FERNE.org

[email protected] 413 7490

destin_ sloan_ams_wnv_2004

mailto:[email protected]

a diabetic male with ams, fever, and hallucinations

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