brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Encephalitis
Symptoms of Encephalitis
Before symptoms of encephalitis start, people may have digestive symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. Or they may feel as if they are getting a cold or the flu and have cough, fever, a sore throat, a runny nose, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle aches. Symptoms of encephalitis include Fever Headache Personality changes or confusion Seizures Paralysis or numbness Sleepiness that can progress to coma and death People may vomit and have a stiff neck, but these symptoms tend to be less common and less severe than when caused by meningitis. Encephalitis due to the herpes simplex viruscauses headache, fever, and flu-like symptoms at first. People also have seizures, sometimes accompanied by strange smells (such as rotten eggs), vivid flashbacks, or sudden, intense emotions. As the encephalitis progresses, people become confused, have difficulty speaking and remembering, have repeated seizures, then lapse into coma. HIV-associated encephalopathycan cause gradual personality changes, problems with coordination, and dementia. If the spinal cord is affected, parts of the body may feel numb and weak. Which parts are affected depend on which parts of the spinal cord are affected (see figure Where Is the Spinal Cord Damaged? ). If the infection is severe, people may lose sensation, become paralyzed, and lose control of the bladder and bowels. Recovery from viral encephalitis may take a long time. Some people do not completely recover. The likelihood of dying depends on what the cause is and how quickly the infection is treated. Long after a case of measles or chickenpox, the virus can be reactivated and cause inflammation in the brain. 