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What is the common name for encephalitis?
Also known as post-infection encephalitis, secondary encephalitis often occurs two to three weeks after the initial infection.
What is the name of the virus that causes encephalitis?
Encephalitis is most often due to a virus, such as: herpes simplex viruses, which cause cold sores (this is the most common cause of encephalitis) the varicella zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles.
What is encephalitis in biology?
Listen to pronunciation. (en-SEH-fuh-LY-tis) A rare condition in which the tissues in the brain become inflamed. Encephalitis is usually caused by a viral infection, but it may also be caused by bacterial or parasitic infections, cancer, or certain drugs or toxins.
Is encephalitis the same as meningitis?
Inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, is called meningitis; inflammation of the brain itself is called encephalitis. Myelitis refers to inflammation of the spinal cord. When both the brain and the spinal cord are involved, the condition is called encephalomyelitis.
Is Japanese Encephalitis a virus?
Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable encephalitis in Asia and the western Pacific.
What is VZV encephalitis?
VZV encephalitis is a viral infection of the central nervous system. Based on the duration of symptoms, VZV encephalitis may be classified into either acute or chronic. The exact pathogenesis of VZV encephalitis is not fully understood.
What is the origin of the word encephalitis?
By The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica | View Edit History. encephalitis, plural encephalitides, from Greek enkephalos (“brain”) and itis (“inflammation”), inflammation of the brain.
What is bacterial encephalitis?
Encephalitis is a brain inflammation that occurs due to an infection such as a virus or bacteria, medication or immune system malfunction. Encephalitis is a rare, often serious condition that requires timely care.
What is the difference between viral meningitis and viral encephalitis?
The biggest distinction between encephalitis and meningitis comes down to the part of your body that these conditions most impact. Meningitis is a swelling of the membranes that surround your brain (meninges) and spinal cord. Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain itself.
Viral meningitis presents with similar symptoms to bacterial meningitis such as fever, headache, dislike of lights and neck stiffness. It can present with a rash, but this is normally quite different to the rash seen in bacterial meningitis with meningococcal disease. Viral meningitis is almost never life-threatening.
Is there a vaccine for encephalitis?
Inactivated Vero cell culture-derived Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine (manufactured as IXIARO) is the only JE vaccine licensed and available in the United States. This vaccine was approved in March 2009 for use in people aged 17 years and older and in May 2013 for use in children 2 months through 16 years of age.
Where did encephalitis originate?
Since it emerged in Japan in the 1870s, Japanese encephalitis has spread across Asia and has become the most important cause of epidemic encephalitis worldwide.
How to diagnose encephalitis?
Symptoms of encephalitis include fever and headache, in addition to lethargy and confusion. Health care professionals make a diagnosis of encephalitis by performing a spinal tap to examine the cerebral spinal fluid. A CT scan or MRI of the brain may also be of use. The underlying cause of the encephalitis determines the treatment.
Can you fully recover from encephalitis?
It may take months to recover from viral encephalitis. Some types of viral encephalitis may be prevented by vaccinations (shots) or by avoiding contact with mosquitos and ticks. With treatment, such as medicine and rest, you may fully recover after having viral encephalitis.
Is encephalitis very deadly?
Encephalitis is a serious neurological condition and unfortunately, despite improvements in specific and more supportive treatments such as excellent intensive care management, it still has a high mortality (death) rate.