Symptoms of encephalitis vomiting

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on March 24, 2025
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Patients with encephalitis often experience vomiting, and some even have projectile vomiting. This is mainly because patients with encephalitis experience a significant increase in intracranial pressure, which leads to severe vomiting. Additionally, patients may also have noticeable fever, headaches, and can display swelling of the optic disc. In such cases, it is necessary to promptly administer sufficient antiviral medications to the patient, as well as some medications to dehydrate and reduce intracranial pressure. If necessary, corticosteroids can also be used as an adjunct treatment. With aggressive treatment, some patients do recover well. (Please administer medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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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.)

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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What to do with pediatric encephalitis

If a child develops encephalitis, it is definitely recommended that they be hospitalized for treatment. It is necessary to assess their condition and determine the cause of the encephalitis: is it viral? Bacterial? Or caused by other pathogens? If encephalitis occurs, aggressive treatment is certainly required. In such cases, if the child is discharged from the hospital, they must regularly revisit the hospital for follow-up examinations, and the development of the child's nervous system must be monitored, focusing on motor and cognitive development. Regular assessments at the hospital are definitely required.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What is checked for encephalitis?

The examination items for encephalitis mainly include, first, some basic hematological tests. These include routine blood tests, liver and kidney function tests, electrolytes, etc., to understand the status of the patient's white blood cells and whether there is any damage to liver and kidney functions. It is also necessary to test for cardiac enzymes, as some viruses can also affect the heart. Second, an EEG is required. Abnormal EEG patterns, such as increased diffuseness, can be observed in encephalitis, which is important for accurate diagnosis. Third, further examinations like lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid tests are needed. The main focus in cerebrospinal fluid is to see if there is an increase in white blood cells and to check if there are any changes in protein and sugar levels in the fluid. This has great reference value for diagnosing whether it is encephalitis and what type of encephalitis it might be. Fourth, a cranial MRI can be performed to clearly identify if there are any organic lesions in the brain.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Pediatric Encephalitis Examination Items

Encephalitis in children is primarily due to a lowered immune resistance, which leads to infection by certain viruses. These viruses invade the nervous system, causing damage to neurons, resulting in symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Generally, the main tests for pediatric encephalitis include hematological tests related to bleeding, primarily involving routine blood tests, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. These indices can reflect the inflammatory conditions inside the patient's body, helping to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections. Another very important auxiliary examination is the electroencephalogram (EEG), where pediatric encephalitis can show mild to moderate abnormalities, which is helpful for accurate diagnosis. The third examination involves performing a lumbar puncture to test the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the levels of white cells, glucose, and chloride, which are crucial for diagnosing encephalitis and differentiating it from other types of encephalitis.

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Written by Tang Li Li
Neurology
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How is encephalitis diagnosed?

The diagnosis of encephalitis relies on the following aspects. First, it is based on clinical manifestations. If the patient clearly exhibits symptoms such as headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and signs of increased intracranial pressure, and physical examination shows positive signs of meningeal irritation, then there is a high suspicion of encephalitis. Second, various auxiliary tests can be conducted. Initially non-invasive tests such as electroencephalograms (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the skull can be completed. If the MRI reveals significant abnormalities, such as abnormal signals in the frontal and temporal lobes including the hippocampus, then viral encephalitis should be highly suspected. If the EEG shows moderate abnormalities or increased slow waves, it also indicates damage to the cerebral cortex, serving as an indirect indicator of encephalitis. Third, a lumbar puncture can be performed to ascertain any abnormalities in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) routine and biochemical tests. If the cell count is elevated beyond ten times the normal value, an inflammatory infection is considered. There is often a minor to moderate increase in protein. The levels of glucose and chloride may decrease in bacterial and tuberculous encephalitis, while they are generally normal in viral encephalitis.