Encephalitis lethargica

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Encephalitis lethargica

Synonyms: Von Economo encephalitis

A rare brain inflammatory disease characterized by acute or subacute encephalitis with involvement of the midbrain and basal ganglia occurring in children as well as adults. Initial symptoms are pharyngitis and fever followed by progressive lethargy sleep disturbances extrapyramidal symptoms (parkinsonism chorea dystonia) neuropsychiatric manifestations (obsessive-compulsive behavior mutism catatonia) and ocular features (oculogyric crises). Autoantibodies against human basal ganglia are often positive. Survivors may develop post-encephalitic syndromes most prominently parkinsonism.

Data from Orphanet are used to provide information on a disease's name, synonym(s), and overview.

Reference: Access aggregated data from Orphanet at Orphadata.

Orphadata: Free access data from Orphanet. © INSERM 1999. Available on http://www.orphadata.org. Data version April 2024

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Advocacy Organizations

Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome Advocacy Association

AGSAA is a global coalition of deeply dedicated parent advocates working alongside clinicians, researchers, and scientists. We are united in our desire to improve the lives of individuals and families living with Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome and those yet to be diagnosed. Everything we do reflects a sense of urgency to rescue patient potential and preserve quality of life through accelerating research and providing timely emotional and educational support alongside evolving clinical care recommendations to affected families.

The Assistance Fund

The Assistance Fund (TAF) is an independent charitable patient assistance organization that helps patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs by providing financial assistance for their copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and other health-related expenses. We currently manage more than 80 disease programs, each of which covers all FDA-approved treatment for the disease named in the program. Since 2009, TAF has helped nearly 180,000 people access critical treatment for life-threatening, chronic, and rare diseases.

Clinical Trials

For a list of clinical trials in this disease area, please click here.