Hospital | |
EncephalitisPronounced: En-sef-uh-light-iss
by
Cynthia M. Johnson, MA DefinitionEncephalitis is swelling of the brain.
CausesEncephalitis can often be caused by an infection. Some common ones are:
It can also be caused by a problem with the immune system, such as a prior infection in the body or a tumor. Risk FactorsSome things that may raise the risk of encephalitis are:
SymptomsSymptoms may range from mild to severe. They may be:
DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. Blood tests will be done to look for signs of infection. A lumbar puncture may be done to test the fluid around the spine. Images may be taken of the brain to look for changes. This can be done with: TreatmentThere are not many ways to treat viruses. They take time to leave the body. Most treatment will focus on supporting the body until the virus has passed. These medicines may be given:
PreventionTo lower your chances of getting encephalitis:
RESOURCES:Encephalitis Society http://www.encephalitis.info National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke https://www.ninds.nih.gov CANADIAN RESOURCES:Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation http://www.cnsfederation.org Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca References:
Eastern equine encephalitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
https://www.dynamed.com/condition/eastern-equine-encephalitis. Updated October 1, 2019. Accessed October 18, 2019.
Herpes simplex encephalitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
https://www.dynamed.com/condition/herpes-simplex-encephalitis. Updated August 29, 2019. Accessed October 18, 2019.
Mann AP, Grebenciucova E, et al. Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor encephalitis: diagnosis, optimal management, and challenges. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2014;10:517-525. Meningitis and encephalitis information page. National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke website. Available at:
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Meningitis-and-Encephalitis-Information-Page. Updated March 27, 2019. Accessed October 18, 2019. Nicholas MK, Collins J, et al. Youmans Textbook of Neurological Surgery, 7th Edition. Section II: General Neurosurgery. AIDS. 2016. Petersen LR, Brault AC, et al. West Nile virus: review of the literature. JAMA. 2013 Jul 17;310(3):308-315. Serafini A, Lukas RV, et al. Paraneoplastic epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2016;61:51-58.
West Nile virus infection. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
https://www.dynamed.com/condition/west-nile-virus-infection. Updated September 30, 2019. Accessed October 18, 2019.
Last reviewed September 2019 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Rimas Lukas, MD Last Updated: 8/11/2020 | |