Neurological Conditions

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on encephalitis: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  http://www.cdc.gov Mayo Clinic  http://www.mayoclinic.com National Institute of Allergy and Infection Diseases  Phone: (301) 496-5717 http://www.niaid.nih.gov National Institutes of Health  http://www.nih.gov

Doctors know surprisingly little about the causes of encephalitis. Outbreaks of encephalitis in a community are usually linked to insect-borne viruses, like the West Nile virus carried by mosquitoes that has sickened more than 50,000 people since it was first detected in the United States in 1999. But many more encephalitis cases are isolated, and

Typically, a doctor will ask for a blood sample and order a lumbar puncture (sometimes called a spinal tap), in which a needle is inserted into the lower back and a small amount of fluid (called CSF or cerebro-spinal fluid) is taken from the spinal canal. This may be uncomfortable but is usually not painful when a

During the “acute” phase After the inflammation has subsided During The “Acute” Phase (while the patient is actively ill with encephalitis) This phase usually lasts a week or two, after which symptoms resolve gradually or sometimes suddenly. Because it is often difficult to ascertain the cause of encephalitis, doctors generally prescribe an antibiotic immediately until

Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain. It usually results from an infection, most often by a virus, but sometimes by bacteria, a fungus, or parasites. In rare cases, it is caused by brain injury, a drug or vaccine reaction, or poison. A virus, or other germ in the blood stream, can be carried to the