$Unique_ID{PAR00068}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Encephalitis}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Encephalitis Stiff neck sit siting up Headache Vomiting Sleepiness
Disorientation confusion Convulsions consciousness loss lead poison
mercury poisons vaccine reactions vaccines reaction shot booster shots brain
inflammation bacteria bacterial parasite parasites virus infection viruses
mumps measles rubella chicken pox herpes mononucleosis hepatitis influenza
whooping cough bacterium influenza rabies yellow fever typhoid vomits
disoriented sleepy blood tests spinal tap infecting organism organisms
fluid nose throat stool stools antibody antibodies viral infections}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Encephalitis


     Quick Reference

     KEY SYMPTOMS
     - Stiff neck
     - Inability to sit up unassisted

     OTHER SYMPTOMS
     - Headache
     - Vomiting
     - Sleepiness
     - Disorientation (confusion)
     - Mild to high fever
     - Convulsions or loss of consciousness

     IMPORTANT
     - Encephalitis is a life-threatening disease.  See your doctor
       immediately if key symptoms appear.

     HOME CARE
     - None.  See your doctor immediately.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - If there are symptoms of encephalitis, let your doctor know if the
       child has been exposed to any poisons (including lead and mercury).
     - If your child has had a severe reaction to any vaccines, tell your
       doctor before the child gets booster shots.


     Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain.  The causes are many,
including poisons, bacteria, vaccines, and parasites.  Most cases are caused
by viruses, many of which cause such familiar diseases as mumps, measles,
rubella, chicken pox, herpes, mononucleosis, hepatitis, and influenza.  The
whooping cough bacterium can cause encephalitis, as can the vaccines used to
prevent whooping cough, measles, influenza, rabies, yellow fever, and typhoid.
The vaccines are far less likely to cause encephalitis, however, than are the
illnesses they prevent.  Lead, mercury, and other poisons also may cause
encephalitis.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     Encephalitis may start with the symptoms of a common cold.  The child
usually has a mild to high fever and a headache, vomits, and is disoriented
(confused) and sleepy.  Occasionally, convulsions and unconsciousness may
occur.
     A child with encephalitis will usually be unable to bend his neck forward
to touch the chin to the chest while the mouth is closed.  Sometimes the child
cannot sit up without supporting the trunk with both hands bracing him from
behind (in a tripod fashion).  This is a life-threatening situation.

     HOME CARE

     None.  See your doctor immediately if your child shows any symptoms of
encephalitis.

PRECAUTION

  -  If your child has had a severe reaction to the whooping cough, measles,
     influenza, rabies, yellow fever, or typhoid vaccine, be sure to tell your
     doctor before a booster of the vaccine is given.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     Since encephalitis may be a complication of another disease (such as
measles, mumps, or whooping cough), a child with such a disease and symptoms
of encephalitis will probably be examined for encephalitis.  Knowing that the
child has been exposed to poisons may also lead the doctor to suspect
encephalitis.
     A definite diagnosis is based on the child's medical history; blood
tests; a spinal tap; identification of the infecting organism in the spinal
fluid, nose, throat, or stools; and the presence of antibodies (protective
substances made by the body to fight infecting organisms) in the patient's
blood.
     If encephalitis is diagnosed, hospitalization maybe required.  There is
specific treatment for only a few types of encephalitis, since most viral
infections are difficult to treat.  There is no medication that can kill the
invading virus after it has caused the infection.  Usually, however, treatment
to ease the symptoms and to help the patient withstand the disease until it
has run its course leads to recovery.

RELATED TOPICS:  Chicken pox; Common cold; Convulsions with fever; Hepatitis;
Herpes simplex; Immunizations; Infectious mononucleosis; Influenza; Lead
poisoning; Measles; Mumps; Poisoning; Rubella; Whooping cough