Viral encephalitis: causes, symptoms, treatment, and transmission

Encephalitis: Seven Things You Need to Know

How is the disease/condition contracted?

Viral encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain, and can be caused by a number of viruses. Herpes simplex virus type 1 is the most common cause of encephalitis in the United States. Other common viruses that cause the condition are arboviruses such as West Nile virus. This variety is transmitted through insects like mosquitoes, ticks, and sand flies. Other herpes viruses and the rabies virus can also transmit encephalitis (Ringold, Lynm, Glass 2005, p.514)..

What are the typical symptoms?

From a layperson's perspective, the typical symptoms of the sufferer include fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, confusion or agitation, extreme sleepiness, weakness, difficulty walking, clumsiness, difficulty speaking, and seizures. A hospital may use computed tomography to look for inflammation in the brain or perform a spinal tap to analyze the spinal fluid for evidence of inflammation and for the presence of specific viruses (Ringold, Lynm, Glass 2005, p.514)..

Question 3: How is the disease/condition typically treated?

Viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotic drugs. Hospitalization is often required to monitor the patient, provide fluids through an IV and intravenous palliative medication. Antiviral medications can be given if the exact cause of encephalitis is determined (Ringold, Lynm, Glass 2005, p.514)..

Question 6: Do you considered the disease/condition chronic or communicable?

The most common form of transmission in the U.S. is through herpes which is usually transmitted through human sexual contact. Mosquitoes and other insects can transmit the virus through bites and secondary conditions such as chickenpox that give rise to the virus are contagious.

Question 7: Why?

Herpes is an extremely common and contagious STD. Additionally, other forms of the virus are highly contagious through animal to human transmission, as in the case of the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus. Often people do not think to take precautions about curtailing the spread of disease through apparently common mosquito populations until it is too late. Given the decline in appropriate vaccination procedures for children, the dangers of secondary encephalitis may increase, since common childhood ailments are often the cause of encephalitis as a sequelae.