Viral encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain that is caused by one of several different types of viruses. The herpes simplex 1 virus, which is also responsible for producing cold sores, can lead to a type of viral encephalitis called herpes...
According to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes approximately 10 percent of encephalitis cases in the U.S. With herpes encephalitis, the virus infects the brain tissues causing an...
Doctors use the term encephalitis to refer to inflammation of the brain, usually caused by bacterial, fungal or viral infections. In the 2008 edition of "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," University of Washington Professor Lawrence...
Encephalitis, in general, is an inflammation of the brain. Viral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation resulting from a viral infection. Viral encephalitis is rare, but when it does occur it can be serious and life-threatening. In its primary...
Viral encephalitis is a medical condition characterized by severe brain inflammation caused by a virus. A number of viral infections, such as herpes simplex virus, measles, Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster virus, can cause brain...
The Mayo Clinic defines "encephalitis" as inflammation of the brain. Encephalitis is a rare and comes in two forms. The primary form of the disease is the result of the brain and spinal cord being infected with a virus. Secondary encephalitis...
The brain is located in a privileged position in the human body. It is protected from trauma by a hard skull and from blood-borne infections by the blood-brain barrier, an anatomical barricade to the passage of large bacteria or substances into...
A virus refers to a tiny infectious particle that can invade the body via the nose and mouth. Certain viruses can also pass via sexual intercourse. Viruses multiply in the body and can create such symptoms as fever, cough, nasal congestion and...
Shingles, a viral infection caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox, varicella-zoster, usually affects people over age 50. The varicella virus lies dormant in cells for many years after the original infection, but...
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, each year, approximately 10,000 to 20,000 cases of viral encephalitis are reported in the United States. Most cases are mild, but the condition can be serious and full recovery can be...
Childhood hearing problems can affect speech and language development and result in self-esteem issues if not identified promptly. Kids Health reports that even a partial or mild hearing loss can affect a child's ability to speak and understand...
The body uses fever -- temperature elevation -- to fight viral or bacterial infection. An increased temperature is a symptom, not the illness itself. Unless the fever is very high or your child is uncomfortable and unable to rest or at risk of...
Encephalitis is a pathogenic infection of the brain, usually caused by a viral--and sometimes bacterial--infection. According to MayoClinic.com, encephalitis can range in severity from a mild, flu-like illness to a serious, life-threatening...
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi). Humans contract Lyme disease from the bite of an infected tick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 28,921 confirmed and 6,277 probable cases...
Parkinson's disease occurs when nerve cells in the base of the brain, the area known as the brain stem, become damaged due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The major symptoms of Parkinson's disease include tremors, rigidity,...
The classic symptoms of Parkinson's disease--tremors, slow movement, muscle stiffness and clumsiness--are found in other diseases. Up to 25 percent of patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, according to the Dana Guide to Brain Health, are...
The concurrent presence of headaches and seizures proves deeply concerning to patients and health care professionals---with good reason. The combination of these symptoms typically indicates a serious disturbance in the brain. The onset of seizure...
Human cases of bird flu, also known as avian influenza, are caused by influenza A viruses that normally infect birds. Sporadic human cases of bird flu have been reported since 1997. Most cases have occurred in Asia, caused by the H5N1 virus. Bird...
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the nervous system that impairs motor skills and other functions of the body. Hallmark symptoms of the disease include tremors, slow movement and loss of balance. However, these hallmark symptoms...
Head pressure, medically referred to as intracranial pressure, is pressure between the skull and the brain. Too much pressure in the head can restrict blood flow to the brain and press on structures in the brain. It is a serious medical condition...
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or NINDS, 25 percent of adults eventually develop shingles, a condition characterized by reawakening of the virus that causes chicken pox within the nerve roots of the...
According to the Mayo Clinic, encephalitis stands for inflammation of the brain resulting from a viral infection. A person is infected with the virus through exposure to a specific fungus o bacteria. When you think of an inflammation of the brain,...
Hearing of a case of meningitis can evoke fear, especially when a daycare, school or college is involved. Meningitis symptoms include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting. and often appear suddenly. Individually, these...
Chicken pox is an infectious disease which is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that is responsible for causing shingles in adults. According to MayoClinic.com, It is highly infectious and can spread from direct contact...
Chickenpox, also called varicella, presents as a red, itchy rash developing into small blisters that break open and crust over, accompanied by fever, headache, fatigue, cough and abdominal pain. This highly contagious disease, caused by a virus,...
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological disorder. It generally has a slow onset, usually in those over the age of 60, though it can be found in people in their 40s. While the disorder is thought to affect more than six million people...
Behcet's disease is a rare autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune illnesses are conditions in which the body attacks its own tissues. Behcet's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition categorized as a vasculitis, in which blood vessels around the...
The herpes simplex viruses, HSV-I and HSV-II, penetrate the body through breaks in the skin and then enter nerve cells. Once in the nerve cell, they are transported along its axon to the nucleus, where they will reside all life long. After the...
Rabies is a fatal viral encephalitis which accounts for 30,000 to 70,000 human deaths worldwide each year. It is transmitted primarily through bites or scratches from infected animals, but infection through inhalation and organ transplantation has...
West Nile virus primarily infects birds but can cause major problems for humans as well. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for West Nile Virus in this video.
