Tiny Mosquito
Mosquito Diseases - Encephalitis
What is encephalitis?
The word “encephalitis” means "inflammation of the
brain." It is a severe and potentially life-threatening disease caused
by a virus.
Encephalitis appears in two forms:
- Primary encephalitis: The virus directly infects the brain and spinal cord. This form of encephalitis is the most serious.
- Secondary encephalitis: The virus infects another part of the body first, and then enters the brain. This is the most common form of encephalitis which can be associated with herpes, measles, chicken pox, dengue, and yellow fever.
What are the symptoms?
Those infected with viral encephalitis have
mild to no symptoms at all. Some of the possible
symptoms associated with the disease are:
- Drowsiness
- Confusion and disorientation
- Seizures
- Sudden fever
- Severe headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tremors
- Stiff neck
In infants, the primary signs of encephalitis are a stiff neck and a bulging in the soft spots of the skull.
What is the method of treatment?
Although the presence of encephalitis can be determined through the
examination of cerebrospinal fluid, an accurate cause cannot be determined.
Mosquito bites are but one known cause of the disease; there are many
others. Not knowing the exact cause can render treatment difficult.
Depending on your symptoms, you may benefit from an anticonvulsant medication or anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the swelling in the brain. Part of the treatment process is plenty of rest, a healthy diet, and lots of fluids to enable your immune system to fight the virus.
Click here for information on encephalitis.
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