What is encephalitis?
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June 24, 2019
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You may have read about unfortunate encephalitis outbreak in Bihar. This is a short write up about encephalitis consisting of essential medical information you should know.
Encephalitis is swelling or irritation of brain which is generally caused by viral infection. Autoimmune conditions, where our immune system itself acts against us is another cause of encephalitis. It is a condition that happens in children, elderly or those whose immune system is weak (like HIV/AIDS, cancer).
Common symptoms of encephalitis include – fever, headache, sick feeling, loss of energy, vomiting, stiffness in neck, confusion, personality changes, hallucination, memory loss, seizures, difficulty in speech and hearing, etc. In severe cases, patient may enter into coma.
Encephalitis is diagnosed with MRI, EEG, blood test, examination of spinal fluid. It is treated with anti-viral drugs, corticosteroids, antibiotics and symptomatic medications. It may take weeks to months to recover.
Avoiding contact (especially children getting in contact) with those who had encephalitis is useful. Taking precautions against mosquito bite is very important.
If your child has a high fever, especially if he or she also has a childhood illness (like measles, mumps, or chickenpox) and any of the symptoms mentioned earlier in this article; it is better to visit the doctor. Encephalitis is more likely in an area where it is commonly reported, like in case of Muzaffarpur and adjoining places in Bihar.
Overall, mosquito prevention is a very good way of preventing several illnesses, especially in rainy/monsoon season.
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Disclaimer: Don’t follow any suggestions in this article without consulting a qualified doctor
References
- Kids health. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/encephalitis.html
- Encephalitis society. https://www.encephalitis.info/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=34b8764e-980c-4159-9f11-2640dc1481b3
Medscape. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/791896-overview.