Encephalitis: Signs, Symptoms and Diagnosis of Acute Encephalopathy

Where the brain gets inflamed resulting in swelling and irritation. The most common cause of this inflammation is a virus. Also known as aseptic encephalitis or acute viral encephalitis, this is a very rare condition that mostly affects children and old people, basically the ones with a weak immune system.

Symptoms and Signs of Encephalitis
If your child has a mild case of acute encephalitis, he/she will display the following symptoms:

Fever
General sick feeling
Headache
Loss of energy
Poor appetite

In the case of serious encephalitis, the following symptoms will be visible:

Coma
Confusion
Convulsions or seizures
Drowsiness
Hallucinations
High fever
Memory loss
Nausea
Personality changes
Problems with hearing or speech
Severe headache
Stiff neck
Vomiting

In infants, these symptoms can be harder to spot. You need to look for important signs like the following and consult with your pediatric neurologist if you notice them:

A full or bulging soft spot (Fontanel)
Body stiffness
Crying that gets worse when the baby is handles
Vomiting

Encephalitis can occur during or after viral illnesses and its symptoms might appear after the symptoms of the viral illness start to appear. But in most cases, it will not give any warning.

Causes of Encephalitis
The most common causes of encephalitis are the following groups of viruses:

1. Herpes virus including herpes simplex causing cold sores, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causing mono, and chickenpox.
2. Viruses that are transmitted by insects like the germs that cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease that spread through tick bites, and West

Nile virus that spreads through a mosquito bite.
3. Childhood infections that were caused by viruses including measles, german measles, and mumps. Because of immunizations, only in very rare cases, this

causes encephalitis.

Some other less common causes of encephalitis can be:

Infection from bacteria like bacterial meningitis
Parasite in people with weak immune system like toxoplasmosis
A complication of infectious diseases like syphilis

Diagnosis of Encephalitis
There are several tests conducted at Rainbow Children’s Hospital for diagnosing encephalitis:

Imaging tests like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scans are used for checking the brain for bleeding, swelling, and

other problems.
Blood tests to look for viruses and bacteria in the blood. These tests can also reveal whether the bodies are making antibodies to fight off the germs or not.
Spinal tap or lumbar puncture is a test for checking cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the spinal cord and brain for any sign of infection.
Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test used for recording the electrical signals in the brain and looking for unusual brain waves.

Treatment for Encephalitis
Children with Encephalitis need to be admitted to a pediatric hospital, preferably in an ICU where their breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and body fluid for preventing any further swelling of the brain. Here are the different medicines that are used for the treatment at Children’s hospital:

1. Corticosteroids for reducing brain swelling.
2. Antiviral drugs for treating the form of encephalitis like the one caused by herpes simplex virus.
3. Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen for treating headaches and fever.
4. Anticonvulsants for children having seizures.
5. No antibiotics are used as they work against viruses.

In most cases, your child will make a full recovery. However, in some rare cases, the condition can lead to lasting problems like speech problems, lack of muscle control, learning disabilities, or memory loss. For better child care, you can turn to physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.


FAQs
1. Is Encephalitis Contagious?
No, the brain inflammation is not contagious. However, the virus that caused the encephalitis can be. But, just because you got a virus doesn’t mean that you will have encephalitis.
2. How long can encephalitis last?
In the acute phases of the illness with severe symptoms, the treatment can take a week. It can take weeks or even months to make a full recovery.
3. Is there any way of preventing Encephalitis?
There is no method for preventing Encephalitis. However, you can prevent illnesses that can cause the condition. Ask your pediatrician for a few tips for doing the same:

Get your kid all the immunizations
Avoid contact with kids with encephalitis
Wash their hands often and well
Avoid mosquito bites by staying inside at dusk and dawn
When outside, make them wear protective clothing like long pants and long sleeves.
Use insect repellent
Drain standing water present around your home
Avoid tick bites by limiting your child’s contact with leaves, soil, and vegetation