What is encephalitis? What are its symptoms? What causes encephalitis? How is encephalitis treated? Get answers to these questions and more in this comprehensive guide.

Understanding Encephalitis

Encephalitis is a serious condition characterized by the inflammation of the brain. It can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Anyone can be affected by encephalitis, but the very young and very old are at the highest risk.

Symptoms of Encephalitis

Encephalitis often starts with flu-like symptoms such as a high temperature and headache. More serious symptoms develop over time, including confusion, disorientation, seizures, changes in personality and behavior, difficulty speaking, weakness or loss of movement, and even loss of consciousness. If you or someone else experiences these serious symptoms, call 999 for an ambulance immediately.

Causes of Encephalitis

The exact cause of encephalitis is not always clear, but it can be caused by viral infections, problems with the immune system, or bacterial/fungal infections. Some types of encephalitis are spread by mosquitoes, ticks, or mammals. It’s important to note that encephalitis is not contagious and cannot be passed from person to person.

Treating Encephalitis

Encephalitis requires treatment in a hospital. The earlier treatment is started, the more successful it is likely to be. Treatment may include antiviral medications, steroid injections, treatments to help control the immune system, antibiotics or antifungal medications, painkillers, and support with breathing. The length of hospital stay can range from a few days to several weeks or even months.

Recovering from Encephalitis

Some people make a full recovery from encephalitis, but many are left with long-term problems caused by damage to the brain. Common complications include memory loss, frequent seizures, personality and behavioral changes, problems with attention and concentration, and persistent tiredness. These issues can significantly impact the affected person’s life, as well as their family and friends. Support and assistance are available to help with the recovery process.

Preventing Encephalitis

While it’s not always possible to prevent encephalitis, certain infections that can cause it can be prevented through vaccination. These include the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, the Japanese encephalitis vaccine, the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine, and the rabies vaccine. If you’re unsure about your vaccination status or if you need any vaccinations before traveling, speak to your GP.

Encephalitis Causes and Risk Factors

What are the most common causes of encephalitis? Viral infections, especially those caused by the herpes simplex virus or the varicella-zoster virus, are the leading causes of encephalitis. Problems with the immune system, where the body mistakenly attacks the brain, can also trigger encephalitis. Bacterial and fungal infections are much rarer causes.

Certain types of encephalitis are spread by mosquitoes, ticks, and mammals. For example, Japanese encephalitis is spread by mosquitoes, tick-borne encephalitis is spread by ticks, and rabies is spread by infected mammals. People who live in or travel to areas with a high risk of these types of encephalitis may be at a higher risk of developing the condition.

The very young and very old are at the greatest risk of developing encephalitis and experiencing life-threatening complications. This is because their immune systems may be less equipped to fight off the infections that can lead to encephalitis.

Encephalitis Treatment and Management

How is encephalitis treated? Encephalitis is treated in a hospital setting, and the earlier treatment is started, the more successful it is likely to be. Treatment may involve a combination of the following:

• Antiviral medications to target the underlying viral infection
• Steroid injections to reduce inflammation in the brain
• Treatments to help control the immune system and prevent it from further damaging the brain
• Antibiotics or antifungal medications if the encephalitis is caused by a bacterial or fungal infection
• Painkillers to reduce discomfort or fever
• Medications to control seizures or fits
• Supportive care, such as oxygen therapy or the use of a ventilator, to assist with breathing

The length of time a person with encephalitis needs to stay in the hospital can vary greatly, ranging from a few days to several weeks or even months, depending on the severity of the condition and the individual’s response to treatment.

Recovering from Encephalitis

What is the recovery process like for someone who has had encephalitis? While some people eventually make a full recovery, many are left with long-term problems caused by the damage to their brain. Common complications include:

• Memory loss (amnesia)
• Frequent seizures or fits
• Changes in personality and behavior
• Difficulties with attention, concentration, planning, and problem-solving
• Persistent fatigue

These issues can have a significant impact on the affected person’s life, as well as their family and friends. However, there are support services and resources available to help with the recovery process and to manage the long-term effects of encephalitis.

It’s important to note that the recovery process can be long and frustrating, but with the right support and treatment, many people are able to regain a good quality of life after experiencing encephalitis.

Preventing Encephalitis

While it’s not always possible to prevent encephalitis, there are some steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of certain types of the condition:

• Getting vaccinated against the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), as well as the Japanese encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis vaccines if traveling to high-risk areas
• Receiving the rabies vaccine if traveling to areas where the risk of exposure to rabies is high and medical care may be limited
• Staying up-to-date on routine vaccinations, as recommended by your healthcare provider
• Protecting against mosquito and tick bites when traveling to areas where these pests are known to carry viruses that can cause encephalitis

If you’re unsure about your vaccination status or if you need any vaccinations before traveling, be sure to speak with your GP or a travel health specialist. Taking these preventive measures can help reduce the risk of developing encephalitis.

Encephalitis – NHS

Encephalitis is an uncommon but serious condition in which the brain becomes inflamed (swollen).

It can be life threatening and requires urgent treatment in hospital.

Anyone can be affected, but the very young and very old are most at risk.

Symptoms of encephalitis

Encephalitis usually starts off with flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature and headache.

More serious symptoms come on over hours, days or weeks, including:

• confusion or disorientation
• seizures or fits
• changes in personality and behaviour
• difficulty speaking
• weakness or loss of movement in some parts of the body
• loss of consciousness

Dial 999 for an ambulance immediately if you or someone else has these serious symptoms.

Causes of encephalitis

It’s not always clear what causes encephalitis, but it can be caused by:

• viral infections – very rarely, encephalitis may be caused by the common viruses that causes cold sores (herpes simplex) or chickenpox (herpes varicella) spreading to the brain
• a problem with the immune system, the body’s defence against infection – sometimes something goes wrong with the immune system and it mistakenly attacks the brain, causing it to become inflamed
• bacterial or fungal infections – these are much rarer causes of encephalitis than viral infections

Some types of encephalitis are spread by mosquitoes (such as Japanese encephalitis), ticks (such as tick-borne encephalitis) and mammals (such as rabies).

You cannot catch encephalitis from someone else.

Treatments for encephalitis

Encephalitis needs to be treated in a hospital. The earlier treatment is started, the more successful it’s likely to be.

Treatment depends on the underlying cause, but may include:

• antiviral medicines
• steroid injections
• treatments to help control the immune system
• antibiotics or antifungal medicines
• painkillers to reduce discomfort or a high temperature
• medicine to control seizures or fits
• support with breathing, such as oxygen through a face mask or a breathing machine (ventilator)

How long someone with encephalitis needs to stay in hospital can range from a few days to several weeks or even months.

Recovering from encephalitis

Some people eventually make a full recovery from encephalitis, although this can be a long and frustrating process.

Many people never make a full recovery and are left with long-term problems caused by damage to their brain.

Common complications include:

• memory loss (amnesia)
• frequent seizures or fits
• personality and behavioural changes
• problems with attention, concentration, planning and problem solving
• persistent tiredness

These problems can have a significant impact on the life of the affected person, as well as their family and friends.

But help and support is available.

Preventing encephalitis

It’s not always possible to prevent encephalitis, but some of the infections that cause it can be prevented with vaccinations.

These include the:

• measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine – a routine vaccination offered to all children in England
• Japanese encephalitis vaccine – recommended for travellers to at-risk areas, such as parts of Asia
• tick-borne encephalitis vaccine – recommended for travellers to certain parts of Europe (but not the UK) and Asia
• rabies vaccination – recommended for travellers to at-risk where access to medical care is likely to be limited. Find out about rabies risks in terrestrial animals by country on GOV.UK.

Speak to a GP surgery if you’re not sure whether your vaccinations are up to date, or you’re planning to travel abroad and do not know if you need any vaccinations.

Page last reviewed: 15 May 2023
Next review due: 15 May 2026

Viral encephalitis – Better Health Channel

Summary

Read the full fact sheet

• Viral encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain caused by a virus.
• The most serious potential complication is permanent brain damage. 
• Children aged under one year and adults aged over 55 years are at increased risk of life-threatening complications.
• Treatment options include medication to relieve the symptoms and antiviral medications if appropriate.

What is viral encephalitis?

Viral encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain caused by a virus. Some viral diseases, such as measles and rubella, can also progress to involve inflammation of the brain. Other micro-organisms, such as bacteria, fungi and parasites, are capable of triggering encephalitis, but viruses – particularly the group known as enteroviruses – are the leading cause.

Once inside the blood, the viruses migrate to the brain where they start to multiply. The body notices the invasion and mounts an immune system response. This causes the brain to swell. The combination of infection and immune response creates the typical symptoms of viral encephalitis.

The most serious potential complication from viral encephalitis is permanent brain damage. Children aged under one year and adults aged over 55 years are more vulnerable to life-threatening complications.

Symptoms of viral encephalitis

The symptoms of viral encephalitis include:

• high temperature
• headache
• sensitivity to light (photophobia)
• general malaise
• stiff neck
• stiff back
• vomiting
• changes to personality
• confusion
• memory loss (amnesia)
• seizures
• paralysis
• coma.

Viruses that can cause encephalitis

Some of the viruses that are capable of causing encephalitis include:

• enteroviruses – such as coxsackievirus, poliovirus and echovirus
• herpes simplex virus
• varicella zoster virus
• Epstein-Barr virus
• cytomegalovirus
• adenovirus
• rubella
• measles
• Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) virus and Kunjin virus
• Japanese encephalitis virus.

Modes of transmission of viruses

Viruses spread by different means, and some are more infectious than others. Some of the modes of viral transmission include:

• coughs or sneezes from an infected person that release airborne viruses, which are then inhaled by others
• infected insects (such as mosquitoes or ticks) and animals, which can transfer some viruses directly into the bloodstream via their bite
• eating contaminated food or drink
• the transfer of some viruses can occur through touching an infected person
• there is evidence to suggest that some cases of viral encephalitis are caused by a dormant viral infection (such as herpes simplex virus) becoming active again.

Infection and the immune system response

Once viruses have gained access to the bloodstream, they can multiply and spread to other parts of the body, including to the spinal cord and brain (the central nervous system). Access to the brain is by blood or nerves. After breaching the blood–brain barrier, the viruses slip inside brain cells. This disrupts, damages and ultimately ruptures the infected brain cells.

Certain viruses have a preference for different areas of the brain. For example, the herpes simplex virus likes to target the temporal lobes located near each ear.

The cells of the immune system rush to the brain and start attacking the viruses. This causes the characteristic brain swelling (cerebral oedema). Both the infection and the attempts of the body to fight the infection are responsible for the symptoms of viral encephalitis.

Complications of viral encephalitis

Babies, older people and people with reduced immunity are at increased risk of developing complications of viral encephalitis. Some of these complications include:

• low blood pressure (hypotension)
• low oxygen levels in the blood (hypoxaemia)
• bleeding inside the brain (intracerebral haemorrhage)
• permanent brain damage
• death.

Diagnosis of viral encephalitis

Viral encephalitis is diagnosed using a number of tests including:

• physical examination
• blood tests
• laboratory examination of cerebrospinal fluid (clear liquid that bathes the brain and spinal cord) removed via a lumbar puncture (a procedure in which a small needle is inserted into the lower part of the spine)
• computed tomography (CT) scan
• electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain waves
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Treatment for viral encephalitis

Unlike bacteria, viruses are difficult to treat. Antiviral medications only work on a limited number of viruses. Treatment aims to reduce the severity of the symptoms and may include:

• hospitalisation
• antiviral medication, given intravenously, if the virus is known to be susceptible to treatment with antiviral medication (such as the herpes simplex virus)
• intravenous administration of medications to help reduce brain swelling
• pain-relieving medication
• medication to prevent vomiting
• medication to prevent seizures (anticonvulsant)
• medication to reduce fever, such as paracetamol
• fluids to prevent dehydration, but not too much as this can worsen cerebral oedema (swelling of the brain).

Long-term outlook for viral encephalitis

The severity of viral encephalitis depends on the particular virus and how quickly treatment was given. Generally, the acute phase of the illness lasts around one or 2 weeks, and the symptoms either disappear quickly or subside slowly over a period of time.

In many cases, the person makes a full recovery. In other cases, the person can be left with varying degrees of brain damage, which may require long-term supportive care and therapy.

Where to get help

• Always call an ambulance in an emergency (triple zero) Tel. 000
• Emergency department of your nearest hospital
• Your GP (doctor)
• NURSE-ON-CALL Tel. 1300 60 60 24 (24 hours, 7 days) – for confidential health advice from a registered nurse

• EncephalitisExternal Link, 2017, Medscape, USA.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved
by:

Department of Health – Public Health – Communicable Disease Prevention and Control

Inflammation of the meninges – diagnosis and treatment at 100med

What kind of disease is this

Meningitis is often referred to as inflammation of the meninges. In the event of its occurrence, the protective layers of the spinal cord and brain become inflamed. This occurs under the influence of simple microorganisms, bacteria, fungal or viral infections. In some cases, the cause of inflammation can be medication or an injury.

Symptoms

Symptoms of inflammation of the meninges:

• increase in body temperature;

• the occurrence of hearing problems;

• significant headaches;

• nausea;

• loss of consciousness;

• vomit;

• the appearance of a rash on the skin;

• neck stiffness;

• drowsiness;

• convulsions;

• mental problems, including apathy, hallucinations, anxiety, agitation and other types.

Causes

Causes of inflammation of the meninges:

• influence of the simplest microorganisms;

• the presence of fungal infections;

• bacterial types of infections;

• viral diseases;

• a combination of several types of pathogens.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of inflammation of the meninges is carried out as follows:

• general, PCR and biochemical blood tests;

• neurological examination;

• electroencephalography;

• puncture of the cerebrospinal type;

• CT study.

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Our expert’s opinion

Meningitis occurs in acute, fulminant and chronic forms, so only with the right approach can a correct and timely diagnosis be made. Such a complex disease requires complex treatment and high professionalism of medical personnel.

Treatment

Therapy of inflammation of the meninges is carried out in the complex:

• the use of antiviral agents;

• the appointment of antipyretics;

• the use of painkillers;

• antifungal treatment;

• antibacterial therapy.

Also during the treatment of meningitis, it is important to maintain the body’s water balance and adhere to the diet recommended by the specialist.

Prevention

Prevention and treatment of inflammation of the meninges includes vaccination recommended for children, patients with immunodeficiency and persons in contact with carriers of the disease. Also, to prevent illness, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, regularly visit the fresh air, exercise, temper and avoid sources of infection. A balanced diet and the use of vitamin and mineral complexes can be a significant step in the prevention of inflammation of the meninges.

Neurologist, reflexologist, kinesiotherapist, PhD

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Treatment of inflammation of the brain or spinal cord (meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis)

Treatment of inflammation of the brain or spinal cord (meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis)

Myelitis is a general term for diseases and any inflammatory processes affecting the human spinal cord. Encephalitis is a group of diseases characterized by inflammation of the brain. In turn, meningitis is an infectious disease that affects the membranes of both the spinal cord and the brain.

Causes of inflammation

Encephalitis is caused by neurotropic viruses. The disease can also occur due to complications of rubella, smallpox and measles, and infection can also occur through ticks or mosquitoes. Meningitis is caused mainly by three types of bacteria – pneumococci, meningococci and Haemophilus influenzae. Thus, the cause of inflammation of the spinal cord or brain one way or another are infections of a viral, fungal or bacterial nature, or parasites.

Symptoms

The clinical picture is determined by the general extent and severity of the lesion. In most cases, patients experience the following symptoms:

• headache
• rise in body temperature
• nausea
• sensitivity to light
• general weakness
• in extreme manifestations, paralysis, epileptic seizures, impaired consciousness, etc. are possible.

Diagnosis

To diagnose and start treatment of inflammation of the spinal cord or brain, it is necessary to be examined by a neurologist. In addition to the examination, additional studies are carried out, including:

• computed tomography of the spinal cord and/or brain
• magnetic resonance imaging
• lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid analysis, etc.

Treatment of inflammation of the brain or spinal cord

In such diseases, the doctors of the Viva Clinic prescribe mainly drug therapy. As an additional treatment for inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, physiotherapy exercises, physiotherapy, and massage sessions are indicated.

Drug therapy involves taking antibiotics, vitamins, antiseptics, and other drugs. In addition, to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment of inflammation of the spinal cord and brain, an important role is played by:

• proper nutrition
• bed rest
• competent rehabilitation after recovery

Neurologists

Departments where the procedure is performed

• Clinic at Vinogradarepr.