What is Encephalitis?

It is an inflammatory process of the brain, mainly due to the presence of viral or bacterial infections, which can cause the destruction of neurons, bleeding, and brain damage.

Young people and older adults are the most vulnerable segment of the population with severe cases of this disease. The causes vary, but infections can be due to:

Cysticercosis.
Lyme’s disease.
Autoimmune conditions.
Mosquitoes, ticks, and other insect bites.
Allergic reaction to vaccines.
Syphilis.
Toxoplasmosis.
AIDS.

The herpes simplex virus is the most common at any age, including newborns, but others can also cause encephalitis, such as mumps, polio, rabies, rubella, measles, tuberculosis, and chickenpox.

There are two types of encephalitis:

Primary: when the infection is located in the brain.
Secondary: when the immune system attacks brain cells as an erratic reaction to an infection located in another part of the body.

Signs and symptoms Encephalitis

The characteristic symptoms consist of:

Weakness.
Tiredness.
Headache.
High fever.
Lack of appetite.
Somnolescence.
Neck and back stiffness.
Light sensitivity.

In the case of babies, the typical signs are:

Food deficiency.
Bulging fontanelle.
Irritability and constant crying.
Body stiffness.
Vomit.

In cases of medical emergency:

Hallucinations.
Seizures.
Intense migraine
Muscle weakness.
Paralysis in the face and other body areas.
Lack of clarity.
Loss of consciousness that can lead to a coma.
Hearing and expression difficulties.

Diagnosis and treatment Encephalitis

Once the doctor analyzes your symptoms and medical history, they will perform a physical examination and diagnostic tests such as MRI, CT, and electroencephalogram, as well as a lumbar puncture, a cerebrospinal fluid culture, and a brain biopsy. They will also request blood and urine tests, as well as serology tests.

The indicated treatment will depend on the origin of the encephalitis, but, in general, it consists of the administration of medications that help reduce the inflammation, stop the seizures and lessen the symptoms.

If the brain is severely damaged, physical therapy and rehabilitation sessions will also be necessary, as well as psychological and occupational therapies, as applicable.

At the Neurological Center, a select group of highly trained and certified doctors in the various neurological specialties are ready to assist you with the quality and warmth that characterizes us.

Nervous system specialties

Neurology
Neurosurgery
Spine surgery
Pediatric neurosurgery
Neurophysiology
Neuro-rehabilitation
Neuro-pathology
Interventional neuro-radiology
Neuropsychology
Neuro-oncology
Neuro-otology
Epilepsy
Neuro-ophthalmology
Neuroimaging

Related centers and departments

Neurology Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

nidcd.nih.gov
mayocilinic.org
medlineplus.gov
msdmanuals.com
neural.es
medigraphic.com
Mendiola MJ, Fresco SY, Rodríguez OM. Encefalitis por amebas de vida libre: herramientas actuales para el diagnóstico y tratamiento tempranos. Rev Cubana Med Trop. 2020;72(3):1-22.
Coto FF, Murillo BF, Rocha MSM. Encefalitis por Toxoplasma gondii en pacientes con virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2021;6(10):.
Gandarilla-Martínez NA, Martínez-Díaz BA, Espinosa-Aguilar L, et al. Movimientos anormales en un paciente con encefalitis límbica: reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura. Rev Neurol Neurocir Psiquiat. 2021;49(1):14-18. doi:10.35366/101750.
Pizarro AG, Garnier FJC, Orozco GR. Generalidades sobre encefalitis viral aguda. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2021;6(08):5-8.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is Encephalitis?

Signs and symptoms Encephalitis

Diagnosis and treatment Encephalitis

Related centers and departments

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Encephalitis