Neurological diseases >>>> Encephalitis - signs and treatment

Encephalitis - signs and treatment.

The group of diseases, which is characterized by inflammation of the brain, is united by the name "encephalitis". Encephalitis is distinguished by etiology (reasons that caused them): infectious, allergic, toxic, autoimmune. Purulent and non-purulent encephalitis are distinguished by the nature of the exudate. With encephalitis, the inflammatory process can capture the white matter of the brain, gray matter and the pathways of the brain. According to the severity of the course, there are moderate and severe encephalitis.

Infectious encephalitis is caused by neurotropic viruses or bacteria. Distinguish between primary encephalitis, arising independently, and secondary encephalitis (post-vaccination, parasitic, bacterial, etc.), developing against the background of the underlying disease.

Toxic encephalitis can be caused by severe poisoning (metal vapors, chemicals, toxic emissions, carbon monoxide, etc.).

Autoimmune encephalitis (for example, demyelinating encephalitis) is caused by a disturbance in the course of immune reactions that attack its own body, which provokes the disintegration of the neuronal membrane - myelin.

Encephalitis signs:

Bursting headache,
Nausea, urge to vomit,
A lethargic, drowsy state or, on the contrary, increased excitability and sleep disturbances,
Convulsions are possible,
Elevated temperature,
Sensitivity disorders of certain areas of the body,
Movement coordination disorders are possible,
Possible speech impairments (slurred speech - motor aphasia) and impaired understanding of speech (sensory aphasia),
Visual impairment,
Perhaps the development of muscle weakness or, on the contrary, muscle rigidity (with involvement in the inflammatory process of the meninges of the brain - meningeal syndrome).

Treatment of encephalitis requires urgent measures, since a severe form can develop, followed by a vegetative state as a result of the death of the cerebral cortex.

Antimicrobial therapy is carried out depending on the identified causative agent of encephalitis. Symptomatic treatment is carried out: antipyretic drugs, nootropic drugs, pain relievers (to relieve headache attacks), antiplatelet drugs to increase blood flow, oxygen inhalations.

Prevention of encephalitis consists in avoiding visiting places endemic to viral, bacterial, parasitic infections, in timely vaccination and the use of vaccines strictly in accordance with the vaccination schedule.