What is Encephalitis, types, treatment, prevention, has a cure?
What is encephalitis?
Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain, usually caused by viral or bacterial infections. If left untreated, it can have serious consequences.
Have you noticed that infection in the brain is rarely spoken of, even though infections in many other parts of the body are normal? Well, this is because the brain is extra-protected by the immune system, which makes infections in this organ quite rare.
This does not mean, however, that everyone is safe: babies, children and people with weakened or compromised immune systems are great candidates, and these are also the groups that suffer the most sequelae.
Inflammation can be triggered either by direct infection of a microorganism in the brain or as a response to infections elsewhere in the body. In addition, there are cases of autoimmune background encephalitis.
Although encephalitis can easily be resolved by the self-limited nature of viral infections, it can also cause severe sequelae in patients who do not follow treatment correctly.
Causes of encephalitis
In general, encephalitis is caused by infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi, which can be transmitted in many different ways.
The infection can be primary or secondary. In the primary, the microorganism infects the brain directly, while in the secondary, the problem lies in the immune system that is mistaken and, instead of attacking the cells that cause the infection, it attacks healthy brain tissue.
Herpes simplex
The main causative agent of encephalitis is the herpes simplex virus, the same that causes those flat, itchy blisters on the lips. Occasionally, the virus manages to cross the resistance and reach the central nervous system, generating a local inflammatory response.
Enterovirus
Viruses belonging to the enterovirus genus, such as Coxsackievirus, may also be responsible for encephalitis. Symptoms of infections of these types of viruses include symptoms similar to flu , eye inflammation and abdominal pain.
Viruses transmitted by mosquitoes
Some viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes have encephalitis as a complication. Some examples are dengue , malaria , chikungunya , yellow fever , among others.
Childhood infections
Several viruses of classical childhood diseases, such as measles , rubella and mumps , can also cause encephalitis - usually of the secondary type.
Other causes
Autoimmune diseases and cancer side effects are also on the list of culprits for inflammation in the brain, even though it is not always clear why the inflammation is triggered.
Age
There are some viruses that are more frequent during childhood, while others affect older people. This can occur because of a weakened immune system or because of immunizations.
Immune system problems
People with a weakened immune system for some reason are more susceptible to any type of infection, in addition to making it easier for microorganisms to reach the brain. HIV patients , who take drugs that weaken the immune system or have any other condition that affects their functioning are great candidates for the development of the disease.
