Encephalitis in Adults

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is encephalitis? " пїЅ Encephalitis is a rare condition that causes inflammation of the brain. It is most often caused by a virus. пїЅ пїЅ

What are the symptoms of encephalitis? " пїЅ Symptoms include: пїЅ пїЅ

Fever
Headache
Confusion or trouble thinking
Trouble swallowing or speaking
Saying things that do not make sense
Clumsiness or trouble walking
Weak muscles on one side of the body
Seizures - Seizures are waves of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. They can make people pass out, or move or behave strangely.

Will I need tests? " пїЅ Yes. Your doctor will learn about your symptoms and do an exam. He or she will do tests to see what caused your encephalitis and to check that you do not have a different condition. Tests include: пїЅ пїЅ

Blood tests
A lumbar puncture (sometimes called a "spinal tap " пїЅ) " пїЅ During this procedure, a doctor puts a thin needle into your lower back and removes a small amount of spinal fluid. Spinal fluid is the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. He or she will do lab tests on the spinal fluid.
Imaging tests " пїЅ These include an MRI or CT scan (a special kind of X-ray), which create pictures of the inside of the brain.

How is encephalitis treated? " пїЅ The treatment is given in a hospital with medicines that go into a vein through a tube called an "IV. " пїЅ Treatments can include: пїЅ пїЅ

Acyclovir (brand name: Zovirax), which is used to treat infections caused by viruses
Antibiotics, which are medicines to treat other types of infections

Can encephalitis be prevented? " пїЅ Sometimes. Some of the viruses that cause encephalitis are spread by mosquito bites. You can lower your chances of getting encephalitis by avoiding mosquito bites. To do this, you can: пїЅ пїЅ

Stay inside at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are more likely to be around.
Wear shoes, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants when you go outside, especially at dusk.
Wear bug spray.
Drain areas of standing water near your home, such as wading pools and buckets. Mosquitoes breed in standing water.

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 17213 Version 4.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.206 пїЅ пїЅ

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Encephalitis in Adults

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

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