Encephalitis
Encephalitis literally means an inflammation of the brain, but it usually refers to brain inflammation caused by a virus.
It is a rare disease that occurs in about 0.5 per 100,000 people - most often in children, the elderly,
and people with weakened immune systems (eg, those with HIV / AIDS or cancer).
Although several thousand cases of encephalitis are (also called acute viral encephalitis or aseptic encephalitis)
reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year, experts suspect that many more may go
unreported because the symptoms are so mild.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms in mild cases of encephalitis usually include:
Fever
Headaches
poor appetite
Energy loss
a general sense of nausea
In more severe cases of encephalitis, a person is more likely to experience high fever and any number of symptoms
relate to the central nervous system, including:
severe headache
Nausea and vomiting
stiff neck
Perplexity
Disorientation
Personality changes
Convulsions (seizures)
Problems with speech or hearing
Hallucinations
Memory loss
Drowsiness
Coma
It is difficult to recognize some of these symptoms in infants, but are important signs to look for:
Throw up
a full or bulging soft spot (fontanelle)
cry, that does not stop or seems worse when a child is admitted or treated in any way
Body stiffness
Because encephalitis can follow or accompany common viral diseases are sometimes signs and symptoms of these
Diseases before. But often, the encephalitis without warning.
Causes
Since encephalitis can be caused by many types of bacteria, the infection can be distributed in various ways.
One of the most dangerous and most common causes of encephalitis is the herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV is the same virus
that causes cold sores around the mouth, but when it attacks the brain, it can occasionally be fatal. Fortunately, HSV
Encephalitis is very rare.
Encephalitis can be transmitted spread a very rare complication of Lyme disease by ticks or of rabies from rabid animals.
Mosquitoes can also transmit the virus for several types of encephalitis, including West Nile encephalitis, St. Louis
Encephalitis and Western Equine Encephalitis. Over the last few years in the United States, there is concern
about the spread of West Nile virus transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, the virus collected by bites
infected birds.
Milder forms of encephalitis can follow or accompany common childhood diseases, including measles, mumps, chicken pox,
Rubella (German measles), and mononucleosis. Viruses such as chickenpox spread mostly through the media of the nose and throat,
usually when coughing or sneezing.
Encephalitis is less often can from a bacterial infection, such as bacterial meningitis lead, or it may be one,
Complication of other infectious diseases such as syphilis. Certain parasites, like toxoplasmosis, can also cause
Encephalitis in people with compromised immune systems.
Contagiousness
Inflammation of the brain itself is not contagious, but each of the different viruses that can cause encephalitis. Of course
just because a child has a particular virus does not mean that he or she will develop encephalitis. But to be sure,
Children should avoid contact with anyone who has encephalitis.
Prevention
Encephalitis is not prevented except to try and prevent the diseases that can cause. Encephalitis that may
be seen with common childhood diseases largely prevented by proper immunization. Have their children vaccinated
after the vaccination schedule recommended by your doctor. Children should also avoid contact with people who already
has encephalitis.
In areas where encephalitis can be transmitted by insect bites, especially mosquitoes, children should:
Avoid being outside at dusk (when mosquitoes are most active).
Wear protective clothing such as long sleeves and long pants.
Use insect repellent.
In addition, all standing water should be drained around your home, including buckets, birdbaths, flowerpots and tire swings are
as these are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
To avoid tick bites:
Restrict children contact with soil, leaves and vegetation.
Have children wear long-sleeved, light shirts and long pants when outdoors.
Check your children and your pets frequently for ticks.
Time
For most forms of encephalitis, acute phase of the disease (symptoms, when are the heaviest) usually takes up to a
Week. Full recovery can take much longer, often several weeks or months.
Diagnosis
Doctors use several tests to diagnose encephalitis, including:
imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the brain
Swelling, bleeding or other abnormalities
Electroencephalogram (EEG) for detecting the electrical signals in the brain, to check for abnormal brain waves
Blood tests confirm the presence of bacteria or viruses in the blood, and whether a person is the production of antibodies
(Specific proteins that fight infection) in response to a seed
Spinal tap or lumbar puncture, in which cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) is
checked for signs of infection
Treatment
Some children with very mild encephalitis can be monitored at home, but most will need in a hospital, usually in a
ICU. Doctors will carefully monitor their blood pressure, heart rate and respiration, as well as their
Body fluids, prevent further swelling of the brain.
Since antibiotics do not they are not used to treat encephalitis effective against viruses. However, antiviral drugs
can be used to treat caused by the herpes simplex virus encephalitis certain types of especially the type. Corticosteroids
can also be used in some cases, to reduce brain swelling. If a child with seizures, can also anticonvulsants
given.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as acetaminophen, may be used to treat fever and headaches.
Many people with encephalitis make a full recovery. In some cases, the swelling of the brain lead to permanent brain
Damage and lasting complications such as learning disabilities, speech problems, memory loss, or lack of muscle control.
Speech can be physical or occupational therapy in these cases is required. It is difficult to predict the outcome for each
Patient begins at the time of illness, but some types of encephalitis known cause serious complications,
such as Japanese encephalitis
Rarely, if the brain damage is severe, encephalitis can lead to death. Infants younger than 1 year and adults older than
55 are at the greatest risk of death from encephalitis.
When to call the doctor
Call your doctor if your child has a high fever, especially if he or she also has a children's disease (measles, mumps,
Chickenpox) or from a recovery.
Seek immediate medical attention if your child has any of the following symptoms:
severe headache
Convulsions (seizures)
stiff neck
See inability on the bright lights
Double Vision
Difficulty walking
Problems with speech or hearing
Difficulty moving an arm or leg
Loss of sensation anywhere in the body
sudden personality changes
Problems with memory
extreme sleepiness or lethargy
Loss of consciousness
If your child has any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical care:
high fever or fever above 100.4 ° F (38 ° C) in infants younger than 3 months old
Fullness or bulging in the weakness
no stiffness
floppiness or reduced sound
Lethargy
Loss of appetite or reduced feeding
Throw up
Wines that will not stop