Encephalitis

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

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Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Teenagers
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain. Usually the cause is a viral infection, but bacteria can also cause it. It can be mild or severe. Most cases are mild. You may have flu-like symptoms. With a mild case, you may just need rest, plenty of fluids, and a pain reliever.

Severe cases need immediate treatment. Symptoms of severe cases include:

• Severe headache
• Sudden fever
• Drowsiness
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Seizures

In babies, additional symptoms may include constant crying, poor feeding, body stiffness, and bulging in the soft spots of the skull.

Severe cases may require a stay in the hospital. Treatments include oral and intravenous (IV) medicines to reduce inflammation and treat infection. Patients with breathing difficulties may need artificial respiration. Some people may need physical, speech, and occupational therapy once the illness is under control.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Start Here

• Encephalitis (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
• Inflamed Brain: Recognizing Encephalitis and Meningitis (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Computed Tomography (CT) -- Head (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• EEG (Electroencephalogram) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Magnetic Resonance, Functional (fMRI) -- Brain (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Mosquito Control (Environmental Protection Agency)

Related Issues

• Meningitis (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Specifics

• Eastern Equine Encephalitis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Encephalitis Lethargica (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
• Japanese Encephalitis: Frequently Asked Questions (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Rasmussen's Encephalitis (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
• St. Louis Encephalitis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
• Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Travelers' Health: Japanese Encephalitis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Encephalitis (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: New Insights on DR and DQ Human Leukocyte Antigens in Anti-LGI1...
• Article: Risk Factors for Mortality in Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Patients...
• Article: Evaluation of under-testing and under-diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis in Germany.
• Encephalitis -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Also in Spanish

Children

• Encephalitis (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

• Encephalitis (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) collection (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• CSF analysis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Encephalitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine: What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
• Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish