Encephalitis is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the brain, usually due to infections.
See also: Meningitis
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsEncephalitis is most often caused by a viral infection. Many types of viruses may cause it. Exposure to viruses can occur through:
In rural areas, arboviruses -- carried by mosquitoes or ticks, or accidentally ingested -- are the most common cause.
In urban areas, enteroviruses are most common, including:
Other viruses that can cause encephalitis include:
AIDS patients and others at high-risk can develop encephalitis due to parasites such as:
Although most forms of encephalitis are caused by viruses, the condition may also be caused by bacterial diseases, such as:
Extremely rarely, an allergic reaction to vaccinations can cause encephalitis. Autoimmune disease and the effects of cancer can also cause encephalitis.
Encephalitis is uncommon. The elderly and infants are more vulnerable and may have a more severe case of the disease.
SymptomsWhen the virus enters the bloodstream, it may cause inflammation of brain tissue and surrounding membranes. White blood cells invade the brain tissue as they try to fight off the infection. The brain tissue swells (cerebral edema), which may destroy nerve cells, cause bleeding in the brain (intracerebral hemorrhage), and brain damage.
Symptoms include:
Emergency symptoms:
An examination may show:
Tests may include:
The goals of treatment are to provide supportive care (rest, nutrition, fluids) to help the body fight the infection, and to relieve symptoms. Reorientation and emotional support for confused or delirious people may be helpful.
Medications may include:
If brain function is severely affected, interventions like physical therapy and speech therapy may be needed after the illness is controlled.
Expectations (prognosis)The outcome varies. Some cases are mild and short, and the person fully recovers. Other cases are severe, and permanent impairment or death is possible.
The acute phase normally lasts for 1 - 2 weeks. Fever and symptoms gradually or suddenly disappear. Some people may take several months to fully recover.
ComplicationsPermanent brain damage may occur in severe cases of encephalitis. It can affect:
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have:
Controlling mosquitoes (a mosquito bite can transmit some viruses) may reduce the chance of some infections that can lead to encephalitis.
Vaccinate animals to prevent encephalitis caused by the rabies virus.
Human vaccinations that are available include:
Bleck TP. Arthropod-borne viruses affecting the central nervous system. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 406.
Modlin JF. Enterovirus infections. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 402.
Nath A. Berger JR. Acute viral encephalitis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 439.
Whitley RJ. Herpes simplex virus infections. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 397.
That depends on whether it is bacterial encephalitis or viral encephalitis. Bacterial encephalitis is treated with antibiotics, while viral encephalitis is not.
Primary encephalitis can happen to people at any time of the year (sporadic encephalitis), or can be part of an outbreak (epidemic encephalitis).
It may also cause encephalitis
A dangerous condition that affects the brain is encephalitis.
Yes. Mosquitoes can spread or give encephalitis.
Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain that causes irritation and swelling
No, Eastern Equine Encephalitis is a viral disease.
Infected mosquitoes can spread the pathogen that can cause encephalitis. West Nile Virus is one of the encephalitis illnesses that is spread by mosquito sting.
that virus is also named as japanese encephalitis virus.
Primary encephalitis is caused by direct infection by the virus, while secondary encephalitis is due to a post-infectious immune reaction to viral infection elsewhere in the body
Arthur J. Hall has written: 'The Lumleian lectures, abridged, on encephalitis lethargica (epidemic encephalitis)' -- subject(s): Epidemic encephalitis
The viral diseases include: yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, La Crosse encephalitis, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and Western equine encephalitis (WEE), dengue fever, chikungunya, epidemic polyarthritis, Rift Valley fever, Ross River Fever, St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile virus (WNV) and HIV.