Encephalitis - What is it?
I found this interesting article dealing with encephalitis: Take a look:
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain resulting from a viral infection. Encephalitis usually begins with flu-like symptoms, such as fever and headache. The symptoms rapidly worsen, and may cause seizures, changes in mental state, such as confusion, drowsiness and loss of consciousness, or a coma.
The severe and potentially life-threatening form of this disease is rare.
According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, encephalitis means "inflammation of the brain."
Encephalitis occurs in two forms:
- Primary form. Primary encephalitis involves direct viral infection of the brain and spinal cord.
- Secondary form. In secondary encephalitis, a viral infection first occurs elsewhere in the body and then travels to the brain.
Seeking immediate medical assistance and receiving timely treatment is important because the course of the encephalitis is unpredictable. A person with encephalitis can suffer life-threatening damage to their brain. The damage caused to the brain can result in long-term complications, such as memory loss, epilepsy, and personality and behavioral changes.
Encephalitis can occur in people of any age, although children under seven and adults over 55 are more vulnerable to infection.
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