Posted by
Board Certified M.D. on Saturday, May 17, 2008 3:35:42 PM
Long time Ted Kennedy political associate and apparent friend Law Professor and Political Analyst Susan Estrich has reported on FoxNews that the Senator had a Temperature and Chris Wallace said he flu like symptoms. If these reports are accurate then perhaps he had a Seizure due to a high temperature caused by viral/bacterial Encephalitis. He'll need to undergone typical blood work to look for infection, metabolite abnormalities. An
MRI of the brain will be done to rule out a Cerebrovasuclar Accident, such as a Ischemic Stroke, Intracranial Hemorrhage or Tumors. Additionally he may require a Lumbar Pucture aka Spinal Tap to rule out Meningitis/Encephalitis or other Central Nervous System disorder. By reports it does not sound as bad as initially mentioned. However, 2 Seizures means that the Brain Tissue is very irritated by something...high fever due to infection, tumor, bleeding, ischemia, metabolite abnormality to just name a few possibilities. The Senator does have health problems including Peripheral vascular disease having undergone an Carotid Endarterectomy(removal of a fatty plaque)
, daily aspirin to avoid a Stroke, Hypertension, Hypercholestrolemia, history of heavy Alcohol consumption and Obesity. My prayers go out to the Senator and his family.