Encephalitis

What is encephalitis and what causes it?

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain. It is usually caused by a viral infection.

Examples of viral infections that can cause encephalitis include herpes simplex virus (the virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes), varicella zoster virus (the chickenpox virus), mumps virus, measles virus and flu viruses. In the UK, the most common virus to cause encephalitis is herpes simplex virus.

Most people who catch these viruses only have a mild illness (depending on the virus these could include a skin rash, a cold sore, etc). However, rarely, in some people, the virus can travel in the bloodstream to attack the brain and cause encephalitis.

Elsewhere in the world, other viruses can cause encephalitis after bites by insects such as mosquitoes (Japanese B encephalitis virus, West Nile virus) or ticks (Central European Tick-borne virus). Sometimes encephalitis can develop with rabies virus infection after an animal bite.

Most cases of encephalitis are caused by the virus directly infecting the brain. However, sometimes encephalitis can develop if your immune system tries to fight off a virus and, at the same time, attacks the nerves in your brain in error. This is known as post-infectious or autoimmune encephalitis. Rarely, this type of encephalitis can develop after an immunisation.

Very rarely, infection with bacteria, fungi and parasites can cause encephalitis.

What is the difference between encephalitis and meningitis?

Encephalitis and meningitis are not the same. Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining that covers the brain and spinal cord (the meninges). It is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Sometimes you can have both encephalitis and meningitis at the same time. This is called meningoencephalitis.

Who gets encephalitis

Encephalitis is not very common. About 2,500 people per year develop encephalitis in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Anyone can develop encephalitis. However, the very young and the very old are most at risk.

You are also more likely to develop encephalitis if your immune system is compromised in some way. For example, if you are HIV positive, if you are undergoing treatment for cancer, if you are taking long-term steroid treatment, etc.

What are the symptoms of encephalitis?

The symptoms usually start with the common symptoms of a viral infection: fever, headache, muscle aches, feeling tired and nausea and vomiting. As the infection starts to attack the brain, people may start to notice that your behaviour becomes odd. You can become confused and drowsy and can develop a severe headache. You may develop a stiff neck and back and photophobia (an intolerance of light). Muscle weakness or paralysis can occur. Eventually you can become unconscious. You may also start to have seizures (fits). Symptoms can develop quite quickly over a few hours or sometimes they can develop over a few days.

Babies with encephalitis can be off their feeds and appear irritable and/or drowsy. They may also develop seizures.

Other symptoms of encephalitis will depend on the underlying virus that is causing the infection. For example, if you have herpes simplex virus infection you may have a typical herpes simplex rash affecting your skin, eyes or mouth. (This is the blistery looking rash that causes cold sores.)

Someone with encephalitis may have recently been bitten by an insect such as a mosquito or a tick. The rabies virus is transmitted through animal bites such as from an infected dog.

How is encephalitis diagnosed?

Encephalitis can be difficult to diagnose. This is because other things such as meningitis, stroke and sometimes brain tumours can cause similar symptoms. Therefore, you may have various tests before encephalitis can be diagnosed.

Computerised tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan

A lumbar puncture is normally carried out if you are suspected of having encephalitis. However, before a lumbar puncture you will often need to have a computerised tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of your brain to rule out other causes for your symptoms and also to make sure that there are no signs of raised intracranial pressure (raised pressure inside your skull). Performing a lumbar puncture if you have raised intracranial pressure can be dangerous. A CT or MRI scan of your brain may also show signs of brain inflammation.

Lumbar puncture

A lumbar puncture (sometimes called a spinal tap) is a procedure where a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is taken for testing. CSF is the fluid that surrounds the brain (cerebrum) and spinal cord. To obtain some CSF, a doctor pushes a needle through the skin and tissues between two vertebrae into the space around the spinal cord which is filled with CSF. See separate leaflet called 'Lumbar Puncture' for more detail. A lumbar puncture can look for signs of the virus and can also help to exclude meningitis.

Electroencephalograph

The electroencephalograph (EEG) test looks at your brainwaves and can show abnormal brainwaves that occur if you have encephalitis. Several small patches (electrodes) are attached to your scalp. Wires from the electrodes are connected to the EEG machine. See separate leaflet called 'Electroencephalograph (EEG)' for more detail.

Other tests

These can include blood tests, urine tests, swab tests (for example if you have a blistering skin rash). They can help to look for signs and causes of infection.

Note: The exact virus that is the cause of encephalitis is not always found. In some people, encephalitis is diagnosed when other causes for their symptoms have been excluded after tests.

What is the treatment for encephalitis?

Someone with suspected encephalitis needs to be admitted to hospital urgently.

Antiviral medication is usually prescribed if encephalitis is suspected. The most common drug that is used is aciclovir. This is particularly effective in treating encephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus but it may not be as effective against some of the other viruses. If you are suspected as having viral encephalitis, you will usually be started on aciclovir treatment straight away without waiting for confirmation from test results. This is because the drug needs to be started quickly to be most effective and also because herpes simplex virus is the most common virus that causes encephalitis in the UK.

Antibiotics may also be given initially. This is because, without test results, it may be difficult to tell the difference between encephalitis and meningitis caused by bacteria. Also, steroid medicine is sometimes used to treat encephalitis, particularly if you are thought to have post-infectious encephalitis.

Other treatments for encephalitis are what doctors call 'supportive' treatments to help your body to rest and try to fight the infection. It can include intravenous fluids, drugs to control any seizures that you may have, drugs to help with high fever and pain and oxygen given via a face mask. If you have encephalitis you need close monitoring and nursing. If the infection is severe, you may be admitted to an intensive care unit.

What is the prognosis (outlook) for encephalitis?

Encephalitis can affect different people in different ways. Some people recover from encephalitis and have few, or no, long-term problems. However, in many people, encephalitis is a serious conditon and can be life-threatening. Also, after encephalitis, it is common for people to be left with some permanent brain damage. The extent and severity of brain damage can vary greatly.

This brain damage can lead to various problems including:

• Problems with balance, co-ordination and dexterity
• Speech problems
• Weakness and problems with movement
• Swallowing problems
• Seizures (fits)
• Chronic headache
• Personality changes
• Memory problems
• Behavioural problems
• Mood problems, anxiety and depression
• Difficulty concentrating

Support and rehabilitation are needed to help you adjust to, and cope with, any problems that you may have. Therapies such as speech therapy and physiotherapy may help to improve symptoms in some people.

Some people who are severely affected with encephalitis need continuous nursing care as they are no longer able to look after themselves.

Can encephalitis be prevented?

Immunisation programmes in the UK against common childhood illnesses such as measles, mumps and rubella have helped dramatically to reduce the numbers of people who develop encephalitis.

Immunisation is also available against viruses that can cause encephalitis in other countries, such as Japanese B encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis caused by insect bites. Insect repellant sprays and wearing protective clothing, such as long sleeves, can also be helpful in preventing infection. A vaccine is also available against rabies.

Herpes simplex infection in newborn babies is an uncommon complication of active genital herpes in the mother around the time of delivery. It can also (rarely) occur after direct contact with a herpes blister (such as a cold sore) in someone who is looking after the baby. See separate leaflet called 'Genital Herpes' for more detail. It also gives details about how to reduce the chance of passing on genital herpes to your baby if you develop genital herpes whilst you are pregnant or have recurrent genital herpes during pregnancy.

Further help and information

The Encephalitis Society

7B Saville Street, Malton, North Yorkshire YO17 7LL
Tel: 01653 699599 Web: www.encephalitis.info
Their aim is to improve the quality of life for all people affected directly and indirectly by encephalitis.