The Causes of Encephalitis
Encephalitis is a disorder that refers to brain inflammation resulting from a viral infection. In rare cases, this disease is severe and life-threatening. Scientists believe that the actual incidence of encephalitis is probably much higher, but because most people have such mild signs or symptoms, many cases go unrecognized.
There are two forms of encephalitis: a primary form and a secondary form. Primary encephalitis involves direct viral infection of your brain and spinal cord. When a viral infection first occurs elsewhere in your body and then travels to your brain, it is known as secondary encephalitis.
Symptoms of encephalitis are mild and often flu-like. In some cases, people may not experience any symptoms at all. Typical symptoms include headache, irritability, lethargy, fever and joint pain. Symptoms of a more serious infection may include confusion and hallucinations, personality changes, double vision, seizures, muscle weakness, loss of sensation or paralysis in certain areas, tremors, loss of consciousness.
The cause of encephalitis is often a viral infection. The most common causes are the herpes viruses, arboviruses transmitted by insects and rabies transmitted through animal bites. Encephalitis in children may also be caused by the measles, mumps, or German measles (rubella).
People who have an immune deficiency, such as those suffering from AIDS or HIV, going through cancer therapy or recovering from organ transplantation, have a higher risk of developing encephalitis. Visiting or living in areas of the country where mosquito-borne viruses are common also increases the risk of epidemic encephalitis. If you have an outdoor job or open-air hobby, such as gardening, jogging, golf or bird-watching, it is important to be extra careful during an encephalitis outbreak. Mosquito-borne diseases tend to be more prevalent in late summer to early fall in many areas of the United States.
The treatment for mild symptoms of encephalitis includes plenty of rest, a healthy diet, including plenty of liquids, or using acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to relieve headaches and fever. More serious infections are treated in antiviral drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids, to help reduce swelling and pressure within your skull and anticonvulsant medications to stop or prevent seizures.
