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How was Susannah Cahalan misdiagnosed bipolar? What is the impact of a BPD misdiagnosis? A misdiagnosed bipolar is someone that exhibits the symptoms of manic and depressive episodes. If it is a BPD misdiagnosis, doctors are missing the underlying cause of your symptoms. Susannah Cahalan was one person who was misdiagnosed bipolar. Read more about how Susannah Cahalan was misdiagnosed bipolar before the doctors found her brain inflammation.
Who is Thomas Geisbert? What was his role in researching Ebola? Thomas Geisbert was an intern at USAMRIID when the Reston monkey house outbreak first emerged. Geisbert recognized the virus as a filovirus. Keep reading to find out how Thomas Geisbert helped identify this strain of Ebola.
What are autoimmune seizures and autoimmune epilepsy? Was this what Susannah was suffering from in Brain on Fire? Autoimmune epilepsy and autoimmune seizures are both related to potential attacks on and by the immune system. For a long time, doctors weren’t sure what was going on with Susannah. Read more about her symptoms that looked like autoimmune epilepsy.
What is Zaire Ebolavirus? How is Zaire Ebolavirus different from other Ebola viruses? Zaire Ebolavirus is one strain of Ebola virus in the filovirus family. Ebola Zaire is extremely deadly and contagious. Read more about Zaire Ebolavirus below.
What is autoimmune brain stem encephalitis? Why did the doctors think Susannah Cahalan might have it? Autoimmune brain stem encephalitis is a condition where the immune system attacks the brain stem. It is an inflammation or swelling condition that can cause serious impairments. Read more about why doctors thought Susannah may have had autoimmune brain stem encephalitis or another brain stem condition.
Who is Mayinga in The Hot Zone? Was Mayinga responsible for furthering the spread of Ebola? Mayinga in The Hot Zone was a nurse at a hospital in Nairobi, who cared for patients sick with the Ebola Zaire virus, the most deadly strain of Ebola. Read about how Mayinga in The Hot Zone contracted Mayinga, and what happened next.
What is Ebola Marburg? Is this virus different than other Ebola outbreaks? And Ebola Marburg is a strain of Ebola, named after the German city that experienced an outbreak in 1967. The Ebola Marburg outbreak sparked scientific interest in this new disease, and scientists rushed to find its origins. Keep reading to find out more about Ebola Marburg.
What are the different types of seizures? How does each seizure look different from others? Different types of seizures are indicative of different conditions. Susannah Cahalan experienced different seizures throughout her illness. Read more about the different types of seizures and how to tell them apart.
What does severe paranoia signal? Are there paranoia causes beyond mental illness? Severe paranoia is a recurring symptom in Brain on Fire. Susannah had paranoid thoughts about her family, her nurses, and her boyfriend. Read more about the severe paranoia exhibited by Susannah Cahalan.
What is Ekbom Syndrome? Why did it seem like Susannah Cahalan might have Ekbom Syndrome? Ekbom Syndrome is a condition where someone is obsessed with bugs. It can be a precursor to psychosis, and Susannah was believed to have this disease before being correctly diagnosed. Read more about Susannah’s symptoms that seemed like Ekbom Syndrome.