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Infectious encephalitis is typically caused by a viral infection. Vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox have reduced the rate of encephalitis from these diseases, but other viruses can cause encephalitis.
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.
How does encephalitis occur?
Primary encephalitis occurs when a virus directly infects the brain and spinal cord. Secondary encephalitis occurs when an infection starts elsewhere in the body and then travels to your brain. Encephalitis is a rare yet serious disease that can be life-threatening.
What bacteria causes bacterial encephalitis?
Bacteria, fungus and parasites can cause infectious encephalitis more rarely.
- bacteria: mycoplasma, meningococcal, pneumococcal, listeria.
- fungi: histoplasma, cryptococcus, candida.
- parasites: malaria, toxoplasma.
Children, the elderly, and those with a weak immune system are most vulnerable. The disease is usually caused by one of several viral infections, so it’s sometimes referred to as viral encephalitis. Most people who have mild encephalitis fully recover.
Some people experience longer-term effects of encephalitis. Longer-term symptoms can include physical problems, memory problems, personality changes, speech problems, and epilepsy.
Can encephalitis be cured?
Is encephalitis a disability?
Encephalitis can be described as an invisible disability which affects not only one person, but the whole family. Emotional support for the whole family may be needed.
How long is treatment for encephalitis?
It’s treated in hospital – usually in an intensive care unit (ICU), which is for people who are very ill and need extra care. How long someone with encephalitis needs to stay in hospital can range from a few days to several weeks or even months.
How contagious is infectious encephalitis?
Although the brain inflammation itself is not contagious, viruses that cause encephalitis may be contagious. When someone contracts the same virus that a person with encephalitis has, however, it does not mean that he or she also will develop encephalitis.
How do you contract encephalitis?
An inflammation of the brain, encephalitis commonly results from a viral infection, such as the herpes simplex virus. People can contract viral encephalitis by eating contaminated food or getting bitten by an insect carrying the virus.
What are symptoms of encephalitis?
The symptoms of encephalitis are usually sudden and severe. They include: Fever. Drowsiness, lethargy, and possibly coma. Headaches. Personality changes, irritability, or emotional outbursts. Confusion. Weakness in one or more areas of the body.
It is caused by a virus entering the body, usually through the respiratory tract, and then travelling through the bloodstream and acting on other organs such as the liver, glands, spleen etc… It is a virus that causes systemic viral infection. Viral infection of internal body organs is called systemic viral infection.