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@article{189679,
        author = {Utkarsh Shankar Chavan and Ms.Priya Jadhav and Dr. Gita Mohire},
        title = {Encepalities Lethargica Historical Case},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {7},
        pages = {7380-7386},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=189679},
        abstract = {Sleeping sickness,” or, more formally, encephalitis lethargica, is a rare and complex clinical syndrome, gaining worldwide attention for its outbreak. Occurring primarily between 1916 and 1927, the illness is a sequela, neurologic manifestations, such as “protracted sleep, motion disturbances, personality change, oculomotor dysfunction, and dementia.” Acutely, it initially manifests by nonspecific systemic complaints such as “fever, headache, malaise, and sore throat, followed by neurologic symptoms such as lethargy, hyperkinetic movements, and cranial nerve dysfunction.” The pathogenesis of EL continues to be not so clear, with various theories having been put forward. Viral infections such as influenza and other neurotropic viruses, as well as autoimmune theories resulting from inflammation of the midbrain, basal ganglia, and brainstem, have all been suggested as the pathogenesis of EL. The pathogenesis of EL lies in the extensive inflammation of the brain, neuronal cell death, perivascular infiltration, and the disruption of the dopaminergic tracts, which underlies the manifestations of the condition. The diagnosis of encephalitis lethargica is highly dependent on clinical assessment and is aided by cerebrospinal fluid analysis and other investigations excluding other forms of encephalitis, including viral, autoimmune, or post-infectious encephalitis. In view of its rarity, it is presently not possible to carry out laboratory confirmation of its diagnostic criteria. EL can be managed supportively and symptomatically. In acute phases, drugs such as corticosteroids and immunosuppressants can be used, whereas in chronic phases, drugs such as levodopa can be used because of parkinsonism. Rehabilitation programs such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy are effective in improving functional results. Though historically significant, instances of encephalitis lethargica are extremely rare in this modern age. However, the significance of EL cannot be underestimated from a clinical or medical perspective. It is because EL provides lessons on post-viral neurological syndromes and autoimmune neuroinflammation, as well as basal ganglia involvement and its subsequent sequelae. It is also possible to derive lessons on managing similar neurological disorders through an understanding of EL},
        keywords = {Encephalitis Lethargica’, ‘Von Economo Encephalitis’, ‘Post-encephalitic Parkinsonism’, and ‘Spanish Flu’.},
        month = {December},
        }