Aetiology
St Louis encephalitis is a virus spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. It is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae and is closely related to West Nile virus.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is usually made by a combination of clinical symptoms and laboratory tests such as antibody tests.
Differential diagnosis
St Louis encephalitis must be distinguished from other viral encephalitis, such as West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis, and Eastern equine encephalitis.
Treatment
Treatment of St Louis encephalitis is supportive and includes management of symptoms, such as fever and headache. There is no specific antiviral treatment for the virus.
Prognosis
The prognosis for St Louis encephalitis is generally good with prompt treatment. However, the virus can cause serious complications, such as seizures, paralysis, and even death.