Pronounced: En-sef-uh-light-iss
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain. The inflammation may involve the whole brain, or just parts of the brain.
Viral infection of the central nervous system can be asymptomatic, present with mild symptoms, or cause meningitis and/or encephalitis. Most cases of encephalitis are caused by a viral infection. Encephalitis may be sporadic or epidemic. In the United States, the most common cause of sporadic encephalitis is the herpes simplex virus . Epidemic encephalitis are usually mosquito - or tick-borne, which may be dependant on the geography and season.
The most common viruses that cause encephalitis include:
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Risk factors for encephalitis include:
Newborns of mothers who have genital herpes simplex are at risk for herpes simplex encephalitis.
The symptoms may range from mild, such as fever and headache, to severe, such as seizures , loss of consciousness, and permanent neurological damage. Death may also result.
Symptoms include:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam.
Tests may include:
Treatment is mostly supportive. It may include:
RESOURCES:
Encephalitis Information Resource
http://www.encephalitis.info/
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
The Canadian Brain and Nerve Health Coalition
http://www.ccns.org/ccns_information/brain_nerve.html/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php/
References:
Cecil Textbook of Medicine . 21st ed. WB Saunders Company; 2000.
Conn's Current Therapy 2001 . 53rd ed. WB Saunders Company; 2001.
Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 4th ed. Mosby-Year Book; 1998.
Herpes simplex encephalitis. EBSCO Publishing DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed . Updated December 2, 2007. Accessed Feb 23, 2008.
Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases . 6th ed. Churchill Livingstone; 2005.
Samuels MA, Feske SK. Office Practice of Neurology . Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone; 2003.
Last reviewed November 2008 by Rimas Lukas, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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