Context:
Recently, the special surgery operation was performed by doctors at Loma Linda University Health in California by switching off half of the brain of an ailing girl in order to save her life who was suffering from Rasmussen’s encephalitis .
Relevance:
GS II: Health
Dimensions of the Article:
- Rasmussen’s Encephalitis
- Treatment
Rasmussen’s Encephalitis:
- Rasmussen’s encephalitis is an extremely rare, chronic inflammatory neurological disease.
- It typically affects one hemisphere (half) of the brain and is characterized by:
Symptoms:
- Frequent and severe seizures.
- Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).
- Mental deterioration.
- Progressive loss of neurological functions, including motor skills, speech, and eventual paralysis on one side of the body (hemiparesis).
Age of Onset:
- While it most commonly occurs in children under the age of 10, it can also affect adolescents and adults.
Treatment:
- Antiseizure Medications: These medications are often used to manage seizures, although they might not completely eliminate them. They can help reduce the frequency and severity of seizures.
- Immunotherapy: Early use of immunotherapy may help control seizures or prevent further immune-related brain damage.
- Brain Surgery (Hemispherectomy): This surgical procedure is considered the most effective treatment for seizures in Rasmussen’s encephalitis. It involves the removal or disconnection of half of the patient’s brain from the rest of their brain.
-Source: Hindustan Times
