What are the signs and symptoms of encephalitis?

What are the signs and symptoms of encephalitis?

Encephalitis (en-sef-uh-LIE-tis) is inflammation of the brain. There are several causes, but the most common is a viral infection. Encephalitis often causes only mild flu-like signs and symptoms — such as a fever or headache — or no symptoms at all. Sometimes the flu-like symptoms are more severe. Encephalitis can also cause confused thinking.

What causes inflammation of the brain called encephalitis?

Download PDF What is encephalitis. Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain. It is caused either by an infection invading the brain (infectious encephalitis) or through the immune system attacking the brain in error (post-infectious or autoimmune encephalitis).

How often do people get encephalitis in the UK?

It is caused either by an infection invading the brain (infectious encephalitis) or through the immune system attacking the brain in error (post-infectious or autoimmune encephalitis). Anyone at any age can get encephalitis. There are up to 6,000 cases in the UK each year and potentially hundreds of thousands worldwide.

How is encephalitis spread from person to person?

In rare cases, encephalitis is caused by bacteria, fungi or parasites. You can catch these infections from someone else, but encephalitis itself is not spread from person to person. The immune system protects the body from illness and infection. When germs enter the body, the immune system attacks them to stop them causing a serious infection.

How does encephalitis enter the body?

In rare cases it can be caused by bacteria or even fungi. There are two main types of encephalitis: primary and secondary. Primary encephalitis occurs when a virus directly infects the brain and spinal cord. Secondary encephalitis occurs when an infection starts elsewhere in the body and then travels to your brain.

Does encephalitis cause brain damage?

It is the leading cause of viral encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in Asia. Encephalitis is an infection of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord. This infection often causes only mild symptoms, but prolonged swelling of the brain can cause permanent brain damage or death.

What are the different types of encephalitis treatments?

Antiviral drugs, such as ganciclovir or acyclovir , are encephalitis treatments frequently used for more severe cases of the virus. Sometimes encephalitis causes swelling around the outside of the skull, and anti-inflammatory drugs might occasionally help with that.

Is encephalitis a neurological condition?

Encephalitis is a neurological disorder that results in the inflammation of the brain and sometimes the meninges. It is usually due to a viral infection. Most often arboviruses cause encephalitis, by transference via mosquitos to humans and animals.