Encephal Health Dictionary

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Encephal: From 1 Different Sources

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord due to infection... encephalitis

Encephalopathy

Any degenerative brain disease... encephalopathy

Encephalomyelitis

In?ammation of the substance of both brain and spinal cord.... encephalomyelitis

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE)

Scrapie. Notifiable disease. Fatal disease in the nervous system of cattle, unknown before 1985. Microscopic holes appear in the brain giving a spongiform appearance, but with little inflammation. Can spread from one animal to another: sheep, goats, deer, mules, mink, hamsters, mice, pigs and monkeys. Cause: not a virus. Animals itch and scrape themselves against trees or posts for relief. May spread from animals to humans, with brain infection after the character of polio.

Symptoms. (Human). Speech impairment, short-term-memory-loss, difficulty in controlling body movements. Zinc deficiency.

Treatment. Hospitalisation.

Suggested treatment for human infection, unproven.

Tinctures. Echinacea 5; Black Cohosh 3; Yarrow 2; Senna leaf 1.2-3 teaspoons in water (or cup hot Yarrow tea) 3-4 times daily. For headache: Gelsemium.

Supplement: Zinc.

To be treated by a general medical practitioner or hospital specialist. ... bovine spongiform encephalopathy

Encephalin

A naturally occurring brain PEPTIDE, the effects of which resemble those of MORPHINE or other opiates (see ENDORPHINS; ENKEPHALINS).... encephalin

Hepatic Encephalopathy

A neuropsychiatric syndrome caused by disease of the LIVER, and occurring most often in patients with CIRRHOSIS – see also LIVER, DISEASES OF; it also occurs in acute form in acute failure of liver function. The disorder is believed to be the result of biochemical disturbance of brain function, because the condition is reversible and pathological changes in brain tissue are rarely found. The patient’s intellect, personality, emotions and consciousness are altered but neurological signs may or may not be identi?ed. Apathy, confusion, drowsiness, sometimes CONVULSIONS, speech disturbance and eventually COMA mark the progress of the condition. The principles of treatment are to remove the precipitating causes. These include: URAEMIA; sedative, antidepressant and hypnotic drugs; gastrointestinal bleeding; too much protein in the diet; infection; and trauma (including surgical operations).... hepatic encephalopathy

Spongiform Encephalopathy

A disease of the neurological system caused by a PRION. Spongy degeneration of the BRAIN occurs with progressive DEMENTIA. Known examples of the disorder in humans are CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE (CJD) and KURU. Among animals, scrapie in sheep and BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) are caused by slow viruses. The latter has occurred as an outbreak in cattle over the past decade or so, probably as a result of cattle being fed processed o?al from infected animals. Some people have developed a form of CJD from eating infected beef.... spongiform encephalopathy

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (me)

A syndrome in which various combinations of extreme fatiguability, muscle pain, lack of concentration, panic attacks, memory loss and depression occur. Its existence and causes have been the subject of controversy re?ected in the variety of names given to the syndrome: CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME (CFS), post-viral fatigue syndrome, Royal Free disease, epidemic neuromyasthenia and Icelandic disease. ME often follows virus infections of the upper respiratory tract or gut, but it is not clear whether this is an association or cause-ande?ect. It may occur in epidemics or as individual cases. Physical examination shows no evidence of diagnosable disease and there is no diagnostic test – diagnosis usually being made by excluding other possible disorders. The sufferer usually recovers in time, although sometimes recovery may take many months or even years. The most severely affected may be bedridden and may need tube-feeding. There is no speci?c curative treatment, but symptomatic treatment such as resting in the early stages may help. Some experts believe that the illness has a psychological element, and sufferers have been treated with COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY. In 1998 the Chief Medical O?cer set up a multidisciplinary working group, including patients, to consider possible cures and treatments for ME/CFS. The report (2002) concluded that the disorder should be recognised as chronic and treatable, but there was no clear agreement on cause(s) and treatment(s). Meanwhile research continues, including a programme by the Centre of Disease Control in Atlanta, USA. Su?erers may ?nd it helpful to consult the ME Association.... myalgic encephalomyelitis (me)

Encephalocele

A type of neural tube defect that results in defects of the brain rather than of the spinal cord, as occurs in spina bifida.... encephalocele

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Also known as (see chronic fatigue syndrome).... myalgic encephalomyelitis

Wernicke’s Encephalopathy

See Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome.... wernicke’s encephalopathy

Australian Encephalitis

An arboviral disease in Australia transmitted by mosquitoes.... australian encephalitis

Encephaloid

A form of cancer which, to the naked eye, resembles the tissue of the brain.... encephaloid

Encephalopathy (bse)

Known colloquially as ‘mad cow disease’, this is a fatal and untreatable disease. Along with scrapie in sheep and CREUTZFELDT-JACOB DISEASE (CJD) in humans, BSE belongs to a class of unusual degenerative diseases of the brain known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. The disease is caused by abnormal PRION proteins, which are resistant to cellular degradation. These abnormal prion proteins accumulate in and eventually cause the death of nerve cells, both in the spinal cord and the brain. The rare human disease CJD occurs throughout the world and is of three types: sporadic, iatrogenic (see IATROGENIC DISEASE) and inherited.

Since the BSE epidemic in cattle developed in the UK in the 1980s, however, a new variant of CJD has been identi?ed and is believed to be the result of consumption of the meat of BSE-infected cattle. Studies in transgenic mice have con?rmed that BSE caused variant CJD. The new variant has affected younger people and may have a shorter incubation period. If this incubation period turns out to be the same as for the other types of CJD, however, it could be 2005– 2010 before the peak of this outbreak is reached. Over 148 people had died, or were dying, from variant CJD in the UK by the year 2005.

The appearance of BSE in cattle is believed to have been caused by a gene mutation (see GENETIC DISORDERS), although whether this mutation ?rst occurred in cattle or in some other animal remains uncertain. Although the ?rst case of BSE was o?cially reported in 1985, the ?rst cattle are thought to have been infected in the 1970s. BSE spread to epidemic proportions because cattle were fed meat and bone meal, made from the o?al of cattle suffering from or incubating the disease. Mother-to-calf transfer is another likely route of transmission, although meat and bone meal in cattle feed were the main cause of the epidemic. The epidemic reached its peak in 1992 when the incidence of newly diagnosed cases in cattle was 37,545.

A two-year UK government inquiry into the BSE epidemic concluded that BSE had caused a ‘harrowing fatal disease in humans’, and criticised o?cials for misleading the public over the risk to humans from BSE. Consequently, a compensation package for patients and relatives was made available. Meanwhile, a ban on the export of UK beef and restrictions on the type of meat and products made from beef that can be sold to the public were put in place. Although initially thought to be a problem primarily con?ned to the UK, several other countries – notably France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and the United States – have also discovered BSE in their cattle.... encephalopathy (bse)

Hypertensive Encephalopathy

A complication of severe HYPERTENSION, this serious but uncommon condition is characterised by neurological symptoms which include transient verbal and visual disturbances, PARAESTHESIA, disorientation, ?ts and sometimes loss of consciousness. It also affects the eyes, causing PAPILLOEDEMA. Haemorrhages may occur in the brain, usually in the area of the BASAL GANGLIA. Neurological symptoms can usually be treated e?ectively by controlling the patient’s hypertension.... hypertensive encephalopathy

Japanese Encephalitis

A flavivirus, related to Murray Valley virus (see Australian Encephalitis). Rice paddybreeding Culicine mosquitoes, Culex tritaeniorhyehus, often transmit the disease. Mosquitoes are largely zoophilic. Occasionally Aedes spp and Anopholines implicated in transmission. Disease consists of prodrome, encephalitis and recovery (or death on average in 7%). Affects mostly children less than five years of age and leaves sequelae. A vaccination is available.... japanese encephalitis

Wernicke’s Encephalopathy

Also called the Wernicke-Korsako? syndrome, this uncommon disorder is characterised by mental confusion or DELIRIUM that occurs in combination with an unsteady GAIT, nystagmus (see under EYE, DISORDERS OF), and paralysis of the eye muscles and eventually PSYCHOSIS. It is caused by a de?ciency of vitamin B1 (THIAMINE

– see APPENDIX 5: VITAMINS) which affects the brain and nervous system. It occurs in alcoholic individuals and in patients with persistent vomiting. As soon as the condition is diagnosed, it must be treated with large doses of thiamine. Unless the patient has developed symptoms of psychosis, the condition is usually reversible with treatment.... wernicke’s encephalopathy

Encephalitis Lethargica

An epidemic form of encephalitis.

There have been no major outbreaks since the 1920s, but rare sporadic cases still occur.

Many people who survived the initial illness during the major epidemics developed post-encephalitic Parkinson’s disease.... encephalitis lethargica

Encephalography

n. any of various techniques for recording the structure of the brain or the activity of the brain cells. Examples are *electroencephalography and *pneumoencephalography.... encephalography

Encephalomyelopathy

n. any condition in which there is widespread disease of the brain and spinal cord. Necrotizing encephalomyelopathy of childhood is a progressive illness with extensive destruction of nerve cells throughout the central nervous system. It is thought to be caused by a disorder of metabolism.... encephalomyelopathy

Encephalon

n. see brain.... encephalon

Hypoxic-ischaemic Encephalopathy

(HIE, birth asphyxia, perinatal asphyxia) brain damage in a newborn infant as a result of the brain receiving inadequate oxygen. HIE may cause seizures and, if severe, death within minutes of oxygen deprivation. If the infant survives there can be significant long-term consequences, such as developmental delay, learning disabilities, or cerebral palsy.... hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy

Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

a focal encephalitis, found most commonly in children, that results in continual focal seizures (see epilepsy). The underlying cause is unknown but it may be due to a viral infection or an autoimmune process. Patients who are unresponsive to medical (antiepileptic) therapy may undergo surgery of the abnormal brain to try and control the seizures. [G. L. Rasmussen (20th century), US anatomist]... rasmussen’s encephalitis

Russian Spring-summer Encephalitis

an influenza-like viral disease that affects the brain and nervous system and occurs in Russia and central Europe. It is transmitted to humans either through the bite of forest-dwelling ticks of the species Ixodes persulcatus or by drinking the milk of infected goats. Infection of the meninges results in paralysis of the limbs and of the muscles of the neck and back. The disease, which is often fatal, can be prevented by vaccination.... russian spring-summer encephalitis

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