WESTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS

Course overview

WESTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS IS A MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRAL INFECTION CAUSED BY THE WESTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS, A MEMBER OF THE TOGAVIRIDAE FAMILY OF VIRUSES. MOST OF THE INFECTIONS ARE SUBCLINICAL, PRESENTING AS FEVER, CHILLS, MALAISE, AND MYALGIAS, BUT SOME CAN PROGRESS TO AN ACUTE INFLAMMATION OF THE MENINGES AND BRAIN PARENCHYMA. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF WESTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.