Case Study:

“Lola” presented unconscious, only arousable with noxious stimulation, and she was dehydrated. Examination localized her problem to her nervous system. She was rehydrated with intravenous fluids overnight and was treated symptomatically with antibiotics and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in the nervous system. She became conscious overnight but continued to have a decrease in her mentation. She had difficulty swallowing, squinted constantly, and was very weak in all 4 limbs when she was forced to stand. Lola’s family allowed the doctors to continue to treat her symptomatically with an antibiotic that crosses into the brain (trimethoprim sulfa) and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in the brain. If she didn’t improve, the doctors would have encouraged a MRI imaging scan of her brain and cervical spine and possibly analysis of her spinal fluid. At this time the cause of Lola’s problems are unknown. However, Lola gradually improved through the team efforts of the AEC doctors and Lola’s loving family