encephalitis
Sign in to saveEncephalitis (, ) is inflammation of the brain. The severity can be variable with symptoms including reduction or alteration in consciousness, aphasia, headache, fever, confusion, a stiff neck, and vomiting. Complications may include seizures, hallucinations, trouble speaking, memory problems, and problems with hearing.
AI overview
Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain that can cause a range of symptoms from headache and fever to confusion and loss of consciousness. It matters because the condition can lead to serious complications like seizures, memory problems, and speech difficulties, making prompt medical attention important.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Medical condition (new).name
- Encephalitis
- Medical condition (new).image
- Hsv_encephalitis.jpg
- Medical condition (new).caption
- MRI scan image shows high signal in the temporal lobes and right inferior frontal gyrus in someone with herpes simplex encephalitis.
- Medical condition (new).field
- Neurology, infectious disease
- Medical condition (new).symptoms
- Headache, fever, confusion, stiff neck, vomiting
- Medical condition (new).complications
- Seizures, trouble speaking, memory problems, problems hearing
- Medical condition (new).duration
- Weeks to months for recovery
- Medical condition (new).causes
- Infection, autoimmune, certain medication, unknown
- Medical condition (new).types
- Herpes simplex, West Nile, rabies, Eastern equine, others
- Medical condition (new).diagnosis
- Based on symptoms, supported by blood tests, medical imaging, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid
Article
18 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Limbic encephalitis
- Encephalitis lethargica
- Cause
- Viral
- Bacterial
- Other infectious causes
- Autoimmune encephalitis
- Diagnosis
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Prognosis
- Epidemiology
- Terminology
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Encephalitis (, ) is inflammation of the brain. The severity can be variable with symptoms including reduction or alteration in consciousness, aphasia, headache, fever, confusion, a stiff neck, and vomiting. Complications may include seizures, hallucinations, trouble speaking, memory problems, and problems with hearing.
Causes of encephalitis include viruses such as herpes simplex virus and rabies virus as well as bacteria, fungi, or parasites. Other causes include autoimmune diseases and certain medications. In many cases the cause remains unknown. Risk factors include a weak immune system. Diagnosis is typically based on symptoms and supported by blood tests, medical imaging, and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid.