Measles inclusion body encephalitis is one of the four forms of central nervous system involvement by measles virus.
Onset: 1 to 6 months after exposure to measles
Patient at risk: defect in cell-mediated immunity
Clinical features:
(1) afebrile
(2) rapidly progressive
(3) behavioral changes
(4) may develop delirium or dementia
(5) refractory focal or generalized seizures
(6) myoclonus
(7) altered mental status which may progress to coma
Laboratory findings:
(1) normal CSF analysis
(2) routine viral cultures on CSF will usually be negative
A brain biopsy shows neurons and glial cells with nuclear and cytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies. Molecular techniques can be used to identify the virus.
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