How to prevent encephalitis

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on February 13, 2025
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Most cases of encephalitis are transmitted through close contact, such as children playing with toys together. It is possible for them to ingest viruses through their hands, which then enter the bloodstream from the stomach and attack the brain. Some cases of encephalitis are also transmitted through the respiratory tract, mainly through droplets.

Therefore, in order to prevent encephalitis, it is crucial to maintain hand hygiene, wash hands frequently, and avoid crowded places to prevent respiratory transmission. In addition, to prevent encephalitis, it is important to improve one's physical condition and exercise regularly, as a strong body is less susceptible to viral infections. Finally, it is essential to ensure adequate nutrition for encephalitis prevention, including sufficient daily intake of carbohydrates and dietary fiber, as well as vitamins C and folate, which are crucial for enhancing the body's resistance.

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Neurology
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Symptoms of encephalitis in children

Encephalitis in children is generally caused by viral infections, leading to inflammation that naturally results in symptoms like fever. Thus, fever is the most common symptom of pediatric encephalitis, with some body temperatures reaching extremely high levels, even above 40 degrees Celsius. Additionally, patients also experience significant headaches, nausea, and vomiting due to inflammation or increased intracranial pressure. Furthermore, patients often feel discomfort in the occipital and cervical regions, which is a sign of meningeal irritation. If the encephalitis symptoms are very severe, severely affecting the cerebrospinal fluid, the patient may even experience limb paralysis, epileptic seizures, limb convulsions, and frothing at the mouth. Some patients also suddenly exhibit cognitive dysfunction, becoming dull in response, with noticeable impairment in attention, memory, calculation, and judgment abilities. Some children may exhibit psychological symptoms and must receive timely treatment.

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Encephalitis belongs to which department?

Encephalitis is primarily a neurological disorder and is an infectious disease of the central nervous system, mainly diagnosed and treated in neurology. There are many causes of encephalitis, with viral encephalitis being the most common. For example, herpes simplex encephalitis is a typical type seen clinically. Patients may experience fever, even with very high temperatures exceeding 40°C, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. If the condition worsens, seizures, coma, and cognitive impairment may occur. These clinical manifestations require further investigations like electroencephalography, cranial MRI, and lumbar puncture. Additionally, there is a specific type of epidemic, known as Japanese encephalitis, which falls under the category of infectious diseases due to its contagious nature.

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How is encephalitis treated?

The treatment of encephalitis first and foremost involves targeting the pathogen, which includes comprehensive antiviral treatment. After thorough antiviral therapy, the virus can be killed, and the symptoms of encephalitis can fundamentally be alleviated. Secondly, the use of corticosteroids can be combined. Corticosteroids help to suppress inflammatory responses, inhibit excessively activated immune dysfunction, and can reduce cerebral edema, which is beneficial for the recovery from the disease. Third, symptomatic treatment is necessary. If an encephalitis patient experiences symptoms like intracranial hypertension, headache, nausea, and vomiting, some dehydrating drugs to reduce intracranial pressure are needed. If the headache is severe, appropriate symptomatic treatment drugs should be administered. Fourth, it is important to prevent complications. For example, encephalitis often also causes damage to the liver and heart. It is crucial to protect the liver and heart and also to prevent complications such as electrolyte disorders.

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How to check for encephalitis?

To check for encephalitis, the main aspects of examination include the following. First, a complete blood count is necessary, which helps to determine if there is an increase in white blood cells and to assess the proportion of various types of white blood cells; this is a basic test. The second examination is an electroencephalogram (EEG), if the EEG shows abnormalities, it may suggest a diagnosis of encephalitis. The third examination involves cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If the encephalitis is severe, the MRI can reveal lesions, which also suggests a diagnosis of encephalitis. The fourth examination is invasive, involving a lumbar puncture. This test allows for the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, assessing whether there is an increase in white blood cells and proteins in the fluid, which plays an important role in the diagnosis of encephalitis. In summary, diagnosing encephalitis necessitates a complete blood count, cranial MRI, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, and a comprehensive EEG examination.

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Does encephalitis cause fever?

If the patient's encephalitis is caused by a viral infection, they usually exhibit fever, often a high fever with temperatures reaching above 39°C, accompanied by significant symptoms such as headache, nausea, and vomiting. Some patients may also experience cognitive dysfunction, epileptic seizures, and psychiatric symptoms. Therefore, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly, complete examinations such as electroencephalography, lumbar puncture, and cranial magnetic resonance imaging, and timely apply effective antiviral medications. It should be noted that some encephalitis is caused by autoimmune reactions, referred to as autoimmune encephalitis, which is relatively rare clinically. This type of encephalitis generally does not present with fever. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)