Wernicke Encephalopathy Quiz

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Reviewed By:

Shohei Harase

Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)

Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.

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People with these symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes

  • My brain is not working

  • Loss of consciousness

  • Hallucinations with insects

  • Foggy head/brain

  • My brain is not working properly

  • Went cold-turkey from alcohol less than 2 days ago but now seeing things and insects crawling

  • My brain is not processing ideas correctly

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Learn more about Wernicke encephalopathy

Content updated on Sep 20, 2022

What is wernicke encephalopathy?

Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is a life-threatening, degenerative brain condition characterized by eye muscle weakness, ataxia (loss of coordination, balance, and speech), and confusion. It is caused by thiamine deficiency, which results in nervous system damage.

Symptoms of wernicke encephalopathy

  • My brain is not functioning right now

  • Hallucinations

  • Walking has become so unsteady that I always need to hold onto something for support

  • Abnormal behavior

  • Hands and legs became clumsy - I cannot do fine work with them

  • Concentration is getting worse

  • Patient unable to recall or speak his/her name and birthday

  • Difficulty in walking

Questions your doctor may ask to check for wernicke encephalopathy

Your doctor may ask these questions to diagnose wernicke encephalopathy

  • Do you have problems focusing or a reduced sense of awareness in your surroundings?

  • Have you ever seen, heard, or smelt something that did not actually exist?

  • Has your walking become so unsteady that you always need to hold onto something for support?

  • Have you noticed or been told that you have been acting strangely, differently from usual?

  • Do you feel that it is harder to move your limbs or that you are more clumsy recently?

Treatment for wernicke encephalopathy

Wernicke encephalopathy is a medical emergency. Recovery is possible with prompt and quick correction of the thiamine deficiency in the brain. The condition can be reversed if treated within the first 2 to 3 days of symptoms.

View the symptoms of Wernicke encephalopathy

References

  • Latt N, Dore G. Thiamine in the treatment of Wernicke encephalopathy in patients with alcohol use disorders. Intern Med J. 2014 Sep;44(9):911-5. doi: 10.1111/imj.12522. PMID: 25201422.

    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/imj.12522

  • Sinha S, Kataria A, Kolla BP, Thusius N, Loukianova LL. Wernicke Encephalopathy-Clinical Pearls. Mayo Clin Proc. 2019 Jun;94(6):1065-1072. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2019.02.018. PMID: 31171116.

    https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(19)30255-1/fulltext

  • Fujikawa T, Sogabe Y. Wernicke encephalopathy. CMAJ. 2020 Feb 10;192(6):E143. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.190998. PMID: 32041699; PMCID: PMC7012630.

    https://www.cmaj.ca/content/192/6/E143

  • Ota Y, Capizzano AA, Moritani T, Naganawa S, Kurokawa R, Srinivasan A. Comprehensive review of Wernicke encephalopathy: pathophysiology, clinical symptoms and imaging findings. Jpn J Radiol. 2020 Sep;38(9):809-820. doi: 10.1007/s11604-020-00989-3. Epub 2020 May 10. PMID: 32390125.

    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11604-020-00989-3

User testimonials

Reviewed By:

Shohei Harase

Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)

Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.

From our team of 50+ doctors

Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.

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Shohei Harase

Shohei Harase, MD

Neurology

Kameda Medical Center, Japan

Yu Shirai

Yu Shirai, MD

Psychiatry

Yotsuya Yui Clinic, Japan

Yoshinori Abe

Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal medicine

Co-founder of Ubie, Inc.

Rohini R

Rohini R, MD

Ear, nose, throat (ENT)

Bayshore Health Centre, India

Seiji Kanazawa

Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD

Obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN)

National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan

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