Encephalitis

Encephalitis refers to an inflammation of the brain. The condition is usually caused by a viral infection and it can strike people of all ages. Encephalitis differs from meningitis; which is an inflammation of the layers that cover the brain.

There are two primary forms of encephalitis - acute viral encephalitis and post infectious encephalitis. Acute viral encephalitis (AVE) results from a viral attack on the brain. Post infectious encephalitis is an autoimmune state in which a person's immune system attacks the brain after a viral infection has taken place elsewhere in the body.

The symptoms of encephalitis range widely as does its rate of progression. The symptoms may also be similar to those of other conditions; which can often make specific diagnosis difficult. Encephalitis might start with flu like illness or a headache. More serious symptoms will follow later and will demonstrate an altered or lowered state of consciousness. These symptoms could include confusion, drowsiness, seizures, hearing loss and coma. Other symptoms may be an aversion to bright lights, the inability to talk or control movement, sensory changes, stiffness of the neck, uncharacteristic behavior, and others, depending on which part of the brain is under attack. Many viral infections of the brain are secondary to infections that occur elsewhere in the body. For this reason they are often accompanied by symptoms associated with the other infections. These symptoms may include lowered blood pressure and other fluctuations in blood circulation, fever, general malaise, headache and delirium. Symptoms of a viral infection of the brain may also include symptoms of increased pressure in the brain including severe headaches, nausea, convulsions, mental confusion and vertigo. If you have any of these symptoms you should seek medical help immediately.

Viral infections are quite difficult to treat because there aren't any specific antidotes for most of them. In most instances the only treatment is to provide support while the disease runs its course. The exceptions to this are varicella zoster virus encephalitis and herpes simplex encephalitis. For both of these diseases an anti viral drug called acyclovir is used as treatment. Other symptoms may be treated, for example seizures may be treated with anti-convulsants, swelling of the brain may be treated with steroids, and sedatives may be prescribed for patient comfort.