Encephalitis, Rasmussen's

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Encephalitis, Rasmussen's is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

Chronic Encephalitis and Epilepsy
Chronic Localized (Focal) Encephalitis
Epilepsy, Hemiplegia and Mental Retardation
Rasmussen's Syndrome

Disorder Subdivisions

None

General Discussion

Rasmussen's encephalitis is a rare disorder of the central nervous system characterized by chronic inflammation (encephalitis) of one hemisphere of the brain. As a result, the patient undergoes frequent episodes of uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain that cause convulsive seizures (epilepsy). Symptoms, including paralysis of one side of the body (hemiparesis) and mental retardation usually progress over a period of a year or more. Although the exact cause of this disorder is not known, it is thought to be an autoimmune disease resulting from the presence in the brain of foreign immune system cells that cause the inflammation and the brain damage.

It occurs mostly, but not only, in children under the age of ten years, and the course of the disease is most severe during the first 8 to 12 months. After the peak response is reached, the progression of this disorder appears to stop and the patient is left with neurological deficits.

Resources

The Arc (a national organization on mental retardation)
1010 Wayne Ave
Suite 650
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tel: (301)565-3842
Fax: (301)565-3843
Tel: (800)433-5255
TDD: (817)277-0553
Email: info@thearc.org
Internet: http://www.thearc.org/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
Tel: (404)639-3534
Tel: (800)311-3435
Email: http://www.cdc.gov/netinfo.htm
Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
31 Center Drive
8A07
Bethesda, MD 20892-2540
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
Email: braininfo@ninds.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

Rasmussen's Syndrome and Hemispherectomy Support Network
8235 Lethbridge Road
Millersville, MD 21108
USA
Tel: 4109875221
Email: rssnlynn@aol.com

Encephalitis Society
7B Saville Street
Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 7LL
UK
Tel: 44 (0) 1652 625 583
Email: mail@encephalitis.info
Internet: http://www.encephalitis.info

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 5/12/2006
Copyright 1987, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2006 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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