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The effects of antimicrobial and antiepileptic treatment on the outcome of epilepsy associated with central nervous system (CNS) infections
Author(s) -
Singh Gagandeep,
Prabhakar Sudesh
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.01755.x
Subject(s) - epilepsy , medicine , neurocysticercosis , antimicrobial , central nervous system , encephalitis , meningitis , antibiotics , bacterial meningitis , pediatrics , intensive care medicine , immunology , psychiatry , biology , virus , microbiology and biotechnology
SummaryThe course and outcome of epilepsy following central nervous system (CNS) infections has been poorly characterized. Likewise, the impact of antimicrobial treatment as well as other preventative and therapeutic interventions on the development of epilepsy following neurological infectious disorders has been insufficiently studied. The CNS infections that can cause epilepsy may be either acute or chronic‐recurrent. For most acute infections, for example, viral encephalitis and bacterial meningitis, the effect of specific antimicrobial treatment on the development of epilepsy cannot be studied in a controlled manner due to logistic and ethical reasons. In the specific case of neurocysticercosis (NCC), the risk of seizures in the short term is reduced following either anthelminthic or corticosteroid treatment or both. The effect of anthelminthic treatment on seizure outcome in the long term has not been studied. Finally, treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) needs to be optimally defined in the case of epilepsy associated with neurological infectious disorders.