Inflammation of the brain due to infection, autoimmune processes, toxins, and other conditions. Viral infections are a relatively frequent cause of this condition.
Acute or chronic inflammation of the brain caused by viruses, bacteria, spirochetes, fungi, or protozoa. Neurological signs and symptoms and various mental and behavioral changes occur during the illness and may persist.
Infection and inflammation of the brain itself, most commonly by a virus but sometimes by bacteria, often in connection with meningitis or other infections, such as aids, measles, mumps, or chicken POX. The virus most often responsible is a form of herpes simplex that causes cold sores. In St. Louis encephalitis, the virus is introduced to the body by a mosquito bite. Symptoms include fever, headache, confusion, disturbed perception and behavior, paralysis and weakness, and seizures; it sometimes leads to loss of consciousness, coma, and death. Physicians may use a variety of methods to diagnose the disease, such as CT Scan, lumbar puncture, electroencephalograph, blood tests, and even biopsy. Little can be done to treat most forms of the disease, though an antiviral drug can be used against the herpes simplex virus. Recovery depends on the patient’s age and condition; those who do recover often have some kinds of brain damage.
Inflammation of the brain, usually due to viral infection but sometimes occurring as a complication of another infection (e.g., influenza, measles) or resulting from poisoning. Symptoms include headache, drowsiness, neck pain, nausea, and fever, followed sometimes by neurologic disturbances such as seizures, paralysis, and personality changes. The outcome depends on the cause, extent of the brain inflammation, and general condition of the patient.
An inflammation of the brain that may be due to many different causes, including injury to the head or brain or a complication of a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. In rare cases, measles can cause a very serious form of encephalitis.
Inflammation of the brain. It may be caused by a viral or bacterial infection or it may be part of an allergic response to a systemic viral illness or vaccination. Viral encephalitis is endemic in some parts of the world; it may also occur epidemically or sporadically. One form, encephalitis lethargica, reached epidemic proportions shortly after World War I and was marked by headache and drowsiness, progressing to coma (hence its popular name, sleeping sickness). Occasional cases still occur as a complication of mumps. It can cause postencephalitic ‘parkinsonism. Another type of encephalitis that occurs sporadically is due to herpes simplex.
Encephalitis means inflammation or infection of the brain, usually caused by a virus; it may also be the result of bacterial infection. It occurs throughout the world and affects all racial groups and ages. Rarely it occurs as a complication of common viral disease such as measles, mumps, glandular fever, or chickenpox. It may occur with no evidence of infection elsewhere, such as in herpes simplex encephalitis, the most common form seen in Europe and America. Rabies is another form of viral encephalitis, and the HIV virus which causes AIDS invades the brain to cause another form of encephalitis. In some countries North and South America, Japan, East Asia and Russia there may be epidemics spread by the bite of mosquitoes or ticks.
Inflammation of the white and gray matter of the brain. It is almost always associated with inflammation of the meninges (meningoencephalitis) and may involve the spinal cord (encephalomyelitis). In the U.S. 20,000 cases are reported annually.
An inflammation or infection affecting the brain and spinal cord, typically caused by a viral infection or as a complication of another underlying infection.
Encephalitis refers to a condition marked by inflammation in the brain, and occasionally, the meninges, which are the three protective membranes encasing the brain and the spinal cord. This inflammation is typically a result of a viral infection. The severity of encephalitis can range widely, from a mild affliction with barely discernible symptoms to a severe, potentially fatal disorder.
Mild instances of encephalitis could stem from conditions like glandular fever or they might occur as a secondary complication from viral illnesses like mumps or measles.
In the European region, herpes simplex is the predominant cause of severe, potentially fatal encephalitis. On the other hand, in Southeast Asia, the most perilous form is Japanese B encephalitis, transmitted by mosquitoes. From time to time, outbreaks of viral encephalitis emerge in various parts of the globe. For instance, in 1999, an outbreak of West Nile virus, another mosquito-borne version of the disease, took place in New York.
Individuals living with HIV are especially susceptible to severe viral encephalitis. Additionally, they may also encounter the development of cerebral abscesses, which involve the accumulation of pus within the brain tissue.
In mild instances of encephalitis, symptoms typically evolve over a few days and may only present as a minor fever and a mild headache. However, in severe cases, symptoms manifest quickly and may include weakness or paralysis, issues with speech, memory, and hearing, and a progressive loss of consciousness. There’s also a possibility of entering a coma, which is characterized by unconsciousness and unresponsiveness to external stimuli, and experiencing seizures. If the inflammation extends to the meninges, additional symptoms such as a stiff neck and heightened sensitivity to light may also develop.
The diagnosis is determined through various assessments such as blood tests; CT scans or MRIs, which generate cross-sectional or three-dimensional brain images; EEGs, which monitor the brain’s electrical activity; and lumbar punctures that involve analyzing a fluid sample from the spinal canal. In rare cases, a brain biopsy, which requires the removal and analysis of a small tissue sample, may also be conducted.
Encephalitis resulting from herpes simplex is managed with the antiviral medication aciclovir, administered through an intravenous infusion. However, for encephalitis caused by other viral infections, there is currently no established treatment.