What's herpes encephalitis?
Herpes simplex infection is a relatively common cause of meningo-encephalitis. This condition is frequently severe - it causes an acute necrotising encephalitis - and has a high mortality.
Herpes encephalitis is inflammation of the brain, causing a range of symptoms including headache, nausea, anxiety, depression, confusion, loss of co-ordination, memory loss and seizures. The condition may occur during the primary infection or as the result of activation of the virus lying dormant due to a previous infection. It may develop in apparently well children without skin lesions.
The outcome of this disease depends on early diagnosis and treatment. Acyclovir is administered empirically and attempts to establish the diagnosis made by examination of the cerebrospinal fluid after two weeks. |
More information on encephalitis
What is encephalitis? - Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain, caused by a direct viral infection or a hypersensitivity reaction to a virus or foreign protein.
What causes encephalitis? - The cause of encephalitis varies depending on the season, the area of the country, and the exposure of the child. Viruses are the leading cause of encephalitis.
What're the symptoms of encephalitis? - The symptoms of encephalitis vary depending on the cause of the encephalitis. Patients with encephalitis suffer from fever, headache, vomiting, confusion.
How is encephalitis diagnosed? - Diagnosis of encephalitis includes careful questioning to determine possible exposure to viral sources. Tests which can help confirm the diagnosis.
What's the treatment for encephalitis? - Choice of treatment for encephalitis will depend on the cause. Bacterial encephalitis is treated with antibiotics. Viral encephalitis is usually treated with antiviral drugs.
Can encephalitis be prevented? - Encephalitis may be prevented by avoiding the infection. Vaccines are available against some viruses, including polio, herpes B, Japanese encephalitis.
What is Japanese encephalitis? - Japanese encephalitis is a viral disease that infects animals and humans. Japanese encephalitis is a leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia.
What causes Japanese encephalitis? - Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a disease caused by a flavivirus that affects the membranes around the brain.
What're the symptoms of Japanese encephalitis? - Japanese encephalitis begins with fever, severe headache, nausea, and vomiting. The patient will develop a stiff and painful neck.
How is Japanese encephalitis diagnosed? - The diagnosis of Japanese encephalitis is made primarily on the basis of the patient's symptoms and the knowledge of illnesses endemic to a particular geographic region.
What's the treatment for Japanese encephalitis? - There are no treatments available to stop or slow the progression of Japanese encephalitis. Only the symptoms of each patient can be treated.
What's herpes encephalitis? - Herpes encephalitis is inflammation of the brain. Herpes simplex infection is a relatively common cause of meningo-encephalitis. |
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