Encephalitis
Inflammation of the brain, which may be caused by a bacterium, a virus, or an allergic reaction. Some forms of viral encephalitis are contagious. Encephalitis usually runs a short course, with full recovery within a week, but can cause brain damage and death. Treatment of encephalitis must begin as early as possible to avoid potentially serious and lifelong effects. Depending on the cause of the inflammation, treatment may include use of antibiotics, antiviral medications, and anti-inflammatory drugs. If brain damage results from encephalitis, therapy (such as physical therapy or cognitive restoration therapy) may help patients regain lost functions.
Read Also:
- Encephalitis, Nipah virus
Encephalitis, Nipah virus: Brain inflammation (encephalitis) due to the Nipah virus that infects pigs and people. Nipah is the name of the first village the virus struck near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. (The Nipah virus is similar to Hendra virus that was discovered in Australia in 1994.) Nipah virus caused a severe outbreak of viral […]
- Encephalitis, Rasmussen
Encephalitis, Rasmussen: A rare progressive neurological disorder that is characterized by intractable seizures and progressive neurologic deterioration. To be more precise, there are frequent and severe seizures (convulsions), progressive loss of motor skills and speech, hemiparesis (paralysis on one side of the body), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), dementia, and mental deterioration. The disorder affects […]
- Encephalitis, viral
Encephalitis, viral: Inflammation of the brain as a result of virus infection. There are many viruses that cause viral encephalitis. See also: Flavivirus encephalitis.
- Encephalomyelitis
Encephalomyelitis: Inflammation of both the brain and the spinal cord. Encephalomyelitis can be caused by a variety of conditions, including viruses that infect the nervous system. One type of encephalomyelitis, acute disseminatedencephalomyelitis, occurs most commonly after an acute viral infection, such as measles (rubeola). It is due to an autoimmune attack on the nervous system, […]
- Encephalopathy
Disease, damage, or malfunction of the brain. In general, encephalopathy is manifested by an altered mental state that is sometimes accompanied by physical changes. Although numerous causes of encephalopathy are known, the majority of cases arise from infection, liver damage, anoxia, or kidney failure. The term encephalopathy is very broad and, in most cases, is […]