Conditions & Diseases: Brain & Nervous System

Encephalitis

See Also:
Encephalitis: Introduction
Encephalitis: Types
Encephalitis: Causes & Risk Factors
Encephalitis: Signs & Symptoms
Encephalitis: Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Encephalitis: Treatment & Prevention Options

Signs & Symptoms

Initially, the signs and symptoms of encephalitis are similar to that of flu or any other viral infection symptoms. Encephalitis can affect any brain function and the common symptoms are:

• Severe headache
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Drowsiness or confusion
• Sensitive to bright lights
• Loss of memory
• Unable to speak
• Unable to control movement
• Weakness of one or more parts of the body
• Behavior that is not characteristic
• Change to any of the senses e.g. touch
• Taste
• Smell
• Sight
• Hearing
• Stiff neck and back
• Muscle weakness
• Seizures (fits)
• Sleepiness that may lead to coma (8).

Neurological complications may be permanent or improve as the infection runs its course with following signs and symptoms:

• Altered mental state (e.g., disorientation, personality changes)
• Convulsions
• Drooping eyelids (ptosis), double vision (diplopia), crossed eyes (strabismus)
• Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
• Increased intracranial pressure
• Loss of consciousness
• Mental retardation
• Motor dysfunction
• Partial paralysis (paresis) of the extremities
• Projectile vomiting
• Pupil irregularities
• Restlessness
• Seizures
• Tremor (1).

See Also:
Encephalitis: Introduction
Encephalitis: Types
Encephalitis: Causes & Risk Factors
Encephalitis: Signs & Symptoms
Encephalitis: Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Encephalitis: Treatment & Prevention Options

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com