Encephalitis

Encephalitis refers to an inflammation in the brain, which usually results from a virus, although inflammation can be bacterial in origin. As the brain tissue swells, bleeding in the brain, nerve cell destruction, and/or brain damage may occur. Encephalitis most commonly affects children (often in the first year of life), people with a weakened immune system (people with HIV/AIDS or cancer), and older individuals. Encephalitis is more prevalent in areas where mosquitoes and ticks exist that spread certain viruses. As such, outbreaks of infections can occur in epidemics and may increase during certain seasons. Otherwise, the incidence of encephalitis is sporadic, occurring in isolated cases. Symptoms of encephalitis are generally mild or broad enough as to be thought of as something else; thus, many cases ...