Encephalitis

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history

Encephalitis is the inflammation of the brain by blood-borne immune cells. It is not to be confused with neuroinflammation, which is the modern inflammation of the nervous system by tissue-resident immune cells. Unlike with neuroinflammation, encephalitis is associated with swelling of the brain and can be detected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).[citation needed]

Encephalitis is normally caused by a virus, vaccine or when something else that causes inflammation.[1] Encephalomyelitis is when the inflammation affects the spinal cord as well as the brain.[1]

Viral encephalitis[edit | edit source]

More than 90% of viral encephalitis is caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and enteroviruses.[2]

List of all known viruses associated with encephalitis:

Prevalence[edit | edit source]

Symptom recognition[edit | edit source]

Research[edit | edit source]

In 2020, the Open Medicine Foundation announced a study investigating brain fog in patients with herpes simplex encephalitis, including following those patients over time to see which developed ME/CFS.

Notable studies[edit | edit source]

Possible causes[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Encephalitis - Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders". MSD Manual Consumer Version. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  2. Venkatesan, Arun; Geocadin, Romergryko G. (June 2014). "Diagnosis and management of acute encephalitis". Neurology: Clinical Practice. 4 (3): 206–215. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000036. ISSN 2163-0402. PMC 4121461. PMID 25110619.
  3. World Health Organization. "ICD-11 - Mortality and Morbidity Statistics". icd.who.int. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  4. World Health Organization. "ICD-11 - Mortality and Morbidity Statistics". International Classification of Diseases. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  5. Services, Department of Health & Human. "Viral encephalitis". betterhealth.vic.gov.au. Retrieved July 31, 2020.