Infectious Diseases

All cases of encephalitis should be considered a medical emergency. The severity of the illness varies a great deal. Some cases are mild, and full recovery follows in a week or two. Other cases may be severe with permanent effects or even death. One of the most dangerous types is measles encephalitis, which can follow a

Childhood vaccination has already prevented many cases, but it only works against a narrow range of causes, such as measles encephalitis. If a person is bitten by a rabid animal, an emergency course of treatment is available if started in time. Pregnant women who carry the genital herpes virus – even if they are not currently showing

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to encephalitis. Encephalitis is a serious medical emergency caused when the brain becomes inflamed, usually as the result of an infection. Fever, headaches, fatigue, seizures, nausea and vomiting, and mental confusion are some of the common signs of encephalitis. In most cases, doctors are

Here are definitions of medical terms related to encephalitis. Arbovirus: A type of virus that lives in insects like mosquitoes and is passed onto humans through insect bites. Biopsy: A procedure in which a piece of tissue is taken from the body to study under a microscope. Cerebral spinal fluid: The fluid that surrounds and cushions the brain

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on encephalitis: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  http://www.cdc.gov Mayo Clinic  http://www.mayoclinic.com National Institute of Allergy and Infection Diseases  Phone: (301) 496-5717 http://www.niaid.nih.gov National Institutes of Health  http://www.nih.gov

Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain. It usually results from an infection, most often by a virus, but sometimes by bacteria, a fungus, or parasites. In rare cases, it is caused by brain injury, a drug or vaccine reaction, or poison. A virus, or other germ in the blood stream, can be carried to the

Doctors know surprisingly little about the causes of encephalitis. Outbreaks of encephalitis in a community are usually linked to insect-borne viruses, like the West Nile virus carried by mosquitoes that has sickened more than 50,000 people since it was first detected in the United States in 1999. But many more encephalitis cases are isolated, and

Typically, a doctor will ask for a blood sample and order a lumbar puncture (sometimes called a spinal tap), in which a needle is inserted into the lower back and a small amount of fluid (called CSF or cerebro-spinal fluid) is taken from the spinal canal. This may be uncomfortable but is usually not painful when a

During the “acute” phase After the inflammation has subsided During The “Acute” Phase (while the patient is actively ill with encephalitis) This phase usually lasts a week or two, after which symptoms resolve gradually or sometimes suddenly. Because it is often difficult to ascertain the cause of encephalitis, doctors generally prescribe an antibiotic immediately until