What is encephalitis and what best describes the most common cause of encephalitis?

A. Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): A TIA presents with stroke-like symptoms that resolve within minutes to hours without permanent damage. Ms. Lauren’s symptom resolution within 6 hours and return to baseline strongly suggests a TIA. Prompt recognition is essential, as TIAs are often precursors to future strokes and require further evaluation.

B. Hemorrhagic Stroke: Hemorrhagic strokes typically present with sudden, severe symptoms such as intense headache, vomiting, or rapid loss of consciousness. These symptoms usually do not resolve quickly. Ms. Lauren’s gradual symptom resolution and stable vital signs are not consistent with this type of stroke.

C. Severe vision loss in both eyes: While visual disturbances can occur during strokes, bilateral severe vision loss is less common and would typically be seen in strokes involving the occipital lobes or vertebrobasilar system. Ms. Lauren’s case does not provide evidence of this symptom, hence an unlikely feature here.

D. Sudden loss of consciousness: Loss of consciousness is more common in massive strokes, particularly hemorrhagic ones or those involving the brainstem. Ms. Lauren remained awake and was able to report symptoms and anxiety, which rules out this presentation.

E. Sudden severe headache with vomiting: This symptom combination is more typical of a hemorrhagic stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Ms. Lauren did not report a headache or vomiting, which makes this an unlikely symptom in her current presentation.

F. Ischemic Stroke: Ischemic strokes result in prolonged neurological deficits lasting more than 24 hours. Since Ms. Lauren’s symptoms are resolving within a short window and she is returning to baseline, this is less likely than a TIA in her situation.

G. Sudden weakness or numbness, often on one side of the body: This is a hallmark sign of a TIA or stroke. Ms. Lauren’s initial symptoms were stroke-like and likely included unilateral weakness or numbness, which are classic indicators of a TIA.

A. Bruton's disorder: Also known as X-linked agammaglobulinemia, this is a primary immunodeficiency that results in absent or reduced B cells and recurrent bacterial infections. It does not involve distinct facial features or limb defects as described in the question.

B. SCID: Severe Combined Immunodeficiency involves profound defects in both B and T lymphocyte function, leading to severe infections early in life. It is not associated with the described craniofacial abnormalities or limb deformities.

C. Potter syndrome: This condition is caused by severe oligohydramnios, often due to bilateral renal agenesis, and leads to characteristic physical features including widely spaced eyes with epicanthic folds, low-set ears, a broad or beaked nose, a receding chin, and limb deformities.

D. Down Syndrome: While individuals with Down Syndrome often have characteristic facial features such as upslanting palpebral fissures, flat nasal bridges, and low-set ears, they typically do not have beak-like noses, receding chins, or limb defects in the way described.