What is Encephalitis (Brain Inflammation)? Symptoms and Treatment

Encephalitis is the inflammation of the brain caused by viral infections or the immune system's reactions to these infections. With the development of inflammation in the brain and cerebral blood vessels, non-specific symptoms such as cold-like malaise and fever are initially observed. Delaying treatment, progression of the infection, and the formation of neuritis in the brain can lead to encephalitis symptoms such as neurological problems, speech disorders, and epileptic seizures. For this reason, when cerebral vasculitis is diagnosed early, the residual damage after treatment can be minimized. When symptoms of cerebral vascular inflammation begin to appear, the nearest healthcare facility should be consulted.

The answer to the question "What causes brain inflammation?" varies depending on the type of encephalitis. While viral encephalitis occurs due to infections, autoimmune encephalitis originates from the immune system. Brain inflammation is treated by eliminating the underlying causes and correcting the symptoms observed in the patient. To answer the question "What is good for brain inflammation?", the underlying causes must first be identified.

What is Encephalitis (Brain Inflammation)?

The answer to the question "What is encephalitis?" can be considered as the swelling and various damages of the brain due to inflammation. Various infections developing in the body reach the brain and cause inflammation in the brain tissue. This type of encephalitis is contagious and progresses rapidly. Brain inflammation caused by problems in the functioning of the immune system progresses more slowly, but symptoms can be more severe. Infection developing after brain hemorrhage surgery can also be a risk for encephalitis. The answer to the question "How does brain inflammation resolve?" consists of procedures to be followed to correct the factors causing the disease. For example, administering immunoglobulins to the body to regulate the autoimmune response in the immune system may be preferred in the treatment of autoimmune encephalitis.

What Are the Symptoms of Encephalitis?

Although encephalitis usually manifests itself initially with flu and cold symptoms such as high fever and headache, symptoms vary depending on the type of encephalitis. In addition, encephalitis in infants and young children is observed with different symptoms than in adults. Viral encephalitis, which develops due to infection, first appears as symptoms of the causative infection. For example, if sinusitis causes symptoms of brain inflammation to appear, symptoms of sinusitis are observed first. Some brain inflammation symptoms seen in the initial phase are:

Fatigue and drop in energy

Headaches

High fever

Mild or moderate stiffness in the neck and back areas

Increased sensitivity to light and sound

Muscle and joint pain

In the following days and weeks, complaints continue to increase in severity and importance. In the stages where encephalitis becomes serious, the following symptoms may be observed:

Confusion or loss of consciousness

Significant changes in behavior, anger issues

Speech and comprehension problems

Visual impairments, double vision

Nausea and vomiting

Seizure (epilepsy)

Memory loss

Impairments in skills such as walking and moving

Loss of perception of reality

Bladder and bowel problems

Impairment in the functioning of the senses

When such symptoms begin to appear, rapid intervention is needed, so the nearest healthcare facility should be consulted. To find an answer to the question "How does brain inflammation resolve?", a specialist doctor should be consulted and examined.

Symptoms in Infants and Young Children

Since infants and children cannot express themselves as comfortably as adults, it can be more challenging to understand the symptoms. Necessary precautions should be taken when symptoms are observed by parents. Symptoms of brain inflammation in infants are:

Unexpected swelling in the soft spot on the baby's skull

Nausea and vomiting

Inadequate feeding and loss of appetite

Stiffness developing throughout the body

Headache in children can be one of the early symptoms of encephalitis. Therefore, parents should be careful and consult a doctor when necessary.

What Are the Types of Encephalitis?

Encephalitis is of two types: infectious and autoimmune. The question "What is viral encephalitis?" is explained by how the disease develops. Infectious brain infection, also known as viral encephalitis, develops when viral infections reach the spinal cord and brain, causing inflammation. Viral infections can occur due to infections transmitted through parasites such as mosquitoes. Although vaccination policies have reduced the spread of such infections, their incidence is high in immunosuppressed patients such as AIDS and cancer patients. Some viruses that can cause infectious encephalitis are:

West Nile virus

Enteroviruses

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)

Adenovirus

Measles

Mumps

Rabies

Varicella (Chickenpox)

Japanese encephalitis virus

Viral encephalitis has taken its place in human history with infectious diseases such as the lethargic encephalitis epidemic seen during World War I.

Autoimmune encephalitis is a condition where the person's immune system attacks the central nervous system, creating brain inflammation. Autoimmune encephalitis symptoms progress more slowly compared to viral encephalitis. Subtypes of autoimmune encephalitis are grouped according to the proteins and receptors targeted by antibodies. Some types of autoimmune encephalitis are:

Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis

VGKC complex antibody encephalitis

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)

Limbic encephalitis

How is Encephalitis Diagnosed?

When diagnosing encephalitis, the doctor first listens to the complaints and patient history. In addition, certain diagnostic methods and tests can be used. Some of the tests that can be chosen for the diagnosis of brain inflammation are:

Blood tests including blood values and various metabolic measurements

Urine and stool test

Computed tomography (CT)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Lumbar puncture to determine infections such as cerebrospinal fluid inflammation

EEG test can be used to detect seizures and electrical activity in the brain.

Brain inflammation can be diagnosed with different tests such as sputum culture, measurement of intracranial pressure in addition to imaging such as MRI. The methods and tests used may also vary depending on the underlying disease and the symptoms observed in the patient.

How is Encephalitis Treated?

The answer to the question "How does brain inflammation resolve?" can be explained as the treatment of the underlying disease and symptoms. Brain infection treatment can be classified as follows:

Antiviral drugs: If virus-sourced infections lie beneath the causes of encephalitis, antivirals are used for treatment.

Antibiotics: Brain inflammation arising from bacterial causes is treated with antibiotic application.

Corticosteroids: Swelling occurs in the brain due to brain inflammation. Corticosteroids are preferred to reduce the pressure in the brain.

Enteral nutrition, respiratory support: Loss of consciousness may occur in patients whose disease has progressed. Oxygen and nutritional support are provided to the patient receiving treatment in the intensive care unit.

Immunoglobulin/Plasmapheresis: Preferred in the treatment of autoimmune encephalitis.

Epilepsy medications: Used to prevent seizures developing due to damage formed in the brain.

Physiotherapy applications: May be preferred to reduce the negative outcomes on walking and movements caused by the neurological effects of the disease after treatment.

Speech and language therapies: Can help improve the problem in patients experiencing speech problems due to encephalitis.

Psychological treatment: It may be appropriate to heal the patient emotionally in situations such as psychological changes caused by the disease and the long-lasting treatment process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Encephalitis can be seen in anyone due to its transmission route. However, in some cases, the risk increases. Since highly contagious diseases such as chickenpox and mumps can cause encephalitis, individuals with missing childhood vaccinations are under serious risk. A patient undergoing an infection-sourced disease is under risk. For example, sinusitis can progress in a way that causes brain inflammation to form. Therefore, no infection should be considered insignificant and must be treated. Infections occurring with insect bites can also cause encephalitis. Such insects generally spread in certain regions and countries. Individuals living in these regions and near stagnant water are also under risk.

Encephalitis can cause some permanent complications after being treated. Damage requiring continuous care and rehabilitation can occur in the brain. Memory loss, walking and speech disorders may appear. Impairment in hearing and balance, and significant changes in the patient's personality can be observed. Encephalitis treatment varies depending on variables such as the patient's condition and the characteristics of the underlying disease. For this reason, the duration of treatment can range from a few days of hospitalization to a process lasting months. To get a definitive answer on this matter, it would be more appropriate for the patient to be examined by a specialist doctor. The causes of autoimmune brain inflammation have not been fully explained. However, autoimmune diseases such as Behçet's disease can trigger this process. Following infections originating from the herpes virus such as Streptococcus and Shingles, the immune system can lead to autoimmune encephalitis by attacking its own cells. It can emerge due to teratomas that trigger antibody production. Although rare, some cancer types can cause autoimmune reactions to develop. Encephalitis meningitis disease occurs when encephalitis and meningitis diseases are seen at the same time. Encephalitis and meningitis are infections that cause permanent or temporary damage to the brain. The difference between encephalitis and meningitis is that encephalitis is the inflammation of the entire brain. Meningitis, on the other hand, is explained as inflammation of the meninges (brain lining). Meningitis encephalitis symptoms appear in the form of effects such as fever, headache, fatigue, neck stiffness, and muscle weakness. During the disease, symptoms of brain inflammation and brain lining inflammation are seen together. Encephalitis can cause psychological and cognitive damage as a result of inflammation developing in the brain tissue. Neurological problems and epileptic seizures can be observed. Epileptic seizures can develop in a patient who has not previously shown any epilepsy or seizure cases. Encephalitis can cause problems such as brain hemorrhage, increased intracranial pressure, and neuron damage in patients whose infection has progressed. Epileptic seizures may occur in the patient due to damage formed in the brain.

Encephalitis (Brain Inflammation) is a serious neurological disease requiring rapid diagnosis and intervention. When symptoms such as persistent headache, high fever, fatigue, and nausea are observed after an infection, a specialist physician should be consulted without wasting time. In such complaints, the evaluation of specialist doctors serving in the field of Brain and Neurosurgery, such as Op. Dr. Ertuğrul Pınar, is of great importance. Thanks to early diagnosis and treatment, the risk of permanent damage can be minimized.

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