Long-term poor rapport, lack of spontaneity and passive social withdrawal related to acute post-infectious encephalitis: a case report

Introduction Post-infectious encephalitis/encephalopathy is a neurological syndrome that sometimes develops following common viral or bacterial infections. The most common form is acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). ADEM is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that typically presents as a monophasic disorder associated with multifocal neurologic symptoms and encephalitis. Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is another type of severe autoimmune disorder, characterized by seizures, movement disorders and psychiatric symptoms. In general, the prognosis and long-term outcomes of both ADEM and anti-NMDAR encephalitis are favorable. Most patients show complete, albeit slow recovery over a period of one to 2 years. There are few reports of patients with these disorders showing long-term residual psychiatric symptoms.