What is Brain Inflammation (Encephalitis)? What are the symptoms and treatment methods?

The disease known as brain inflammation is called Encephalitis in medical language. It is common because of viral infections. While inflammation of the brain does not cause any symptoms in some cases, most of the time it may occur with symptoms such as headache and fever. Because the brain is affected, symptoms such as coordination disorder, damage to the senses of hearing and vision, and confusion may be encountered. The most affected patient groups are the elderly, those with weakened immune systems and children. Since brain inflammation will differ from patient to patient, the patient has a chance to recover with early treatment.

Brain Inflammation Encephalitis Causes

Brain inflammation may occur due to inflammatory conditions of unknown cause, but due to viral infection.

Types of Primary Brain Inflammation Encephalitis

Encephalitis, which occurs in a single area or when it infects the brain, can spread to other places. Although it is passive in people who have had the disease, it is possible to re-emerge actively.

Encephalitis in Secondary Infections

Infections that occur in various parts of the body occur by attacking healthy brain cells as a result of mistake due to the immune system. Initial signs of infection may appear after 2 or 3 weeks.

Viral Spread Causes

Herpes and inflammation caused by the herpes virus in the mouth and genital area are seen as fever blisters. This virus also appears to cause brain inflammation. One of the most common types is viral infection. Other common Herpes viruses are chickenpox zoster and Epstein Barr virus.

Mosquito Source virus: Infected people become infected after a few weeks or a few days.

Enteroviruses: As a result of infection with Enteroviruses, which are influenza-like viruses, symptoms such as abdominal pain and eye inflammation occur in the person. Rabies virus is one of the viruses that affect the brain.

Tick-borne Viruses: As a result of the virus transmitted by a tick bite, symptoms appear after 1 week.

Childhood Infections: Diseases seen in childhood, such as mumps, rubella and measles, cause secondary encephalitis. Infections after vaccination are rare. It is rarely seen that parasite and bacterial rickettsial cancer drugs cause brain inflammation or cancer.

What Are the Risk Factors of Brain Inflammation? What Complications Occur?

Brain inflammation can be caused by factors that can happen to many people. Children and the elderly are mostly in the risk group. People with weakened immune systems may be at risk of encephalitis. Those exposed to tick and fly bites in geographical areas are at risk.

What Are the Symptoms of Encephalitis?

• Vision and hearing problems
• Headache
• Fever
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Loss of consciousness

The symptoms of encephalitis often show flu-like symptoms. While showing symptoms such as fever, fatigue, exhaustion and headache, paralysis may also be experienced. There are serious situations such as the patient falling into a coma and losing consciousness. It is important to apply to the hospital when these symptoms are seen urgently.

How is Encephalitis Diagnosed?

For diagnosis, the doctor may request the necessary tests by evaluating the patient's life history. First of all, by imaging the brain with MRI, it can be determined whether there is a tumor in the brain that caused the problem or not. One of the tests that the physician also requests is the procedure called lumbar puncture. In this procedure, known as the Spinal Tap, fluid from the spinal cord can be taken to determine whether there is inflammation and infection in the brain. Another test is the diagnosis of serum toxicology and urine excretion samples. Brain biopsy is performed in cases that do not respond to treatment.

How is Encephalitis Treated?

Since the treatment causes serious complications, supportive treatment is applied to reduce the patient's fever, improve vital functions and maintain electrolyte fluid balance. In mild brain inflammations, antiviral and inflammatory drugs can be used for complaints such as fever and headache. In addition, plenty of rest is beneficial during the treatment period.