Encephalitis)
On this page, you will find everything you need to know about encephalitis.
What is encephalitis?
Encephalitis is an uncommon but serious condition where the brain becomes inflamed.
It can be life-threatening and requires urgent treatment in a hospital. People of any age can get encephalitis, but children and the elderly are at greater risk.
What are the symptoms of encephalitis?
Encephalitis sometimes begins with flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature and headache.
- More severe symptoms develop over hours, days, or weeks, including:
- Changes in personality and behavior, such as becoming severely agitated.
- Difficulty speaking.
- Weakness or loss of movement in some parts of the body.
- Seeing and hearing things that are not there (hallucinations).
- Loss of feeling in certain parts of the body.
- Uncontrollable eye movements, such as the eyeballs moving from side to side.
- Vision problems.
Loss of consciousness.
What causes encephalitis?
- The cause of encephalitis is not always clear, but it can include:
- Viral infections — Encephalitis is rarely caused by common viruses that cause cold sores (herpes simplex) or the spread of chickenpox to the brain.
- An issue with the immune system, the body’s defense against infections — sometimes, it malfunctions, and the immune system mistakenly attacks the brain, causing inflammation.
- Bacterial or fungal infections — These are very rare causes of encephalitis compared to viral infections.
Certain types of encephalitis can spread through mosquitoes (such as Japanese encephalitis), ticks (like tick-borne encephalitis), and mammals (such as rabies).
You cannot catch encephalitis from an infected person.
How is encephalitis diagnosed?:
- The doctor will take the patient’s medical history and conduct a physical examination, and if necessary, may request additional procedures such as:
- A computed tomography (CT) scan.
- A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
- A lumbar puncture: This procedure involves removing some fluid from around the spinal cord (nerves connecting to the spine) to check for signs of encephalitis.EEG).
- An electroencephalogram (EEG).
Blood tests, urine tests, or tests of other bodily fluids to check for infections.
How is encephalitis treated?
- Treatment involves various procedures, as needed, and may include:
- Antiviral medications.
- Steroid injections.
- Treatments to help control the immune system.
- Antibiotics or antifungal medications.
- Painkillers to reduce discomfort or high temperature.
- Medications to control seizures.
Supportive breathing equipment, such as oxygen through a face mask or a mechanical ventilator.
The duration someone with encephalitis needs to stay in the hospital can range from a few days to several weeks or even months.
How can encephalitis be prevented?
- It is not always possible to prevent encephalitis, but some typesMMRof infections causing encephalitis can be prevented with vaccines. These include:
- The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine — A routine vaccination offered to all children.
- The Japanese encephalitis vaccine — Recommended for travelers to high-risk areas, such as parts of Asia.
- The tick-borne encephalitis vaccine — Recommended for travelers to certain parts of Europe.
Rabies vaccinations — Recommended for travelers to high-risk areas where access to medical care might be limited and difficult.
What are the complications of encephalitis?
- Many people do not fully recover from the disease and suffer long-term problems due to brain damage. Common complications include:
- Memory loss.
- Recurrent seizures.
- Changes in personality and behavior.
- Problems with attention, concentration, planning, and problem-solving.
Persistent fatigue.
These issues can significantly impact the affected person’s life, as well as their family and friends.
When should you consult a doctor?
If you have an unexplained fever and generally feel unwell and suddenly find yourself extremely drowsy, especially if you have recently had a viral illness like chickenpox or measles, seek medical care immediately.
FAQs
Is encephalitis a common disease?
No, encephalitis is considered a rare disease and usually affects individuals who also have other conditions that lead to immune deficiencies.
Is encephalitis contagious?
No, people with encephalitis cannot spread the disease to healthy individuals.
Are there vaccinesMMRto prevent encephalitis?
