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Powassan Encephalitis

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Powassan Encephalitis, Powassan Tick-Borne Encephalitis, Powassan Viral Encephalitis, Powassan Virus

  • Epidemiology
  1. Rare Encephalitis cause in Northeastern and North Central States
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Tickborne Illness via Woodchuck Tick or Groundhog Tick (Ixodes cookei, I. marxi or I. Scapularis)
  • Findings
  1. Presentations range from asymptomatic to severe neurologic Impairment
  • Labs
  1. Antibody to Powassan Virus (serum, CSF)
  • Differential Diagnosis
  1. See Encephalitis
  • Management
  1. No known effective treatment
  2. Supportive care
  • Prognosis
  1. Cognitive Impairment in >50% of survivors, and 10-15% mortality
  • Resources
  1. Powassan Virus (CDC)
    1. https://www.cdc.gov/powassan/clinicallabeval.html
  • References
  1. Birge (2012) Emerg Infect Dis 18(10):1669-71 +PMID: 23017222 [PubMed]
  2. Hermance (2017) Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 17(7):453-62 +PMID: 28498740 [PubMed]