Viral encephalitis can cause more damage than already known

A study of patients with viral encephalitis by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio has revealed that the condition could cause seriouys movement problems.

The investigators studied a group of patients with the condition, five of whom had West Nile virus. They found that 11 of the victims were admitted to neurological intensive care, while four developed severe movement disorders like tremor, myoclonus (sudden jerking), chorea (writhing) and ballismus, a type of violent flinging movement. While patients who suffered from these movement disorders had to stay in intensive care for nearly 55 days, those not affected needed an average stay of 16 days. Out of these patients four still remain in intensive care, while two were transferred to chronic care and only one has fully recovered.