lethargic encephalitis
Noun An uncommon, historical term for a specific type of brain inflammation (encephalitis) characterized by profound sleepiness or drowsiness (lethargy) and muscular weakness. It refers to a disease that occurred in epidemic form in the early 20th century.
The term is used in historical and medical contexts to describe a specific past epidemic illness. * The patient's symptoms were consistent with lethargic encephalitis. * Lethargic encephalitis was a major public health concern in the 1920s.
The condition is also known as encephalitis lethargica or sleeping sickness (not to be confused with the tropical disease caused by trypanosomes). It often resulted in a chronic post-encephalitic state with Parkinsonian symptoms.
- Encephalitis lethargica: The more formal, Latin-derived synonym.
- Sleeping sickness (historical context): A historical, non-specific name for this condition.
- Epidemic encephalitis: A broader descriptive term.
- Encephalitis lethargica
- (Historically) Sleeping sickness
This term has a single, specific medical-historical meaning. It is not used in a general or figurative sense.
- an encephalitis that was epidemic between 1915 and 1926; symptoms include paralysis of the extrinsic eye muscle and extreme muscular weakness