Introduction
Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain due to a viral infection (infectious) or when the immune system mistakenly begins to attack brain tissue (autoimmune encephalitis) (Clinic, 2011). Encephalitis is sometimes considered an “acute” condition as the term means it happens abruptly, develops rapidly and requires urgent care (Clinic, 2011). This infection is not very common as statistics show that encephalitis occurs in approximately 0.5 in every 1 000 000 individuals, most of them children, elderly people and individuals with weakened immune system (Gondim, 2013). However, the National Health Service (NHS) states that they suspect incidence is higher than official figures because many causes go unreported when the symptoms are mild (Landis, 2013).
Encephalitis causes flu-like symptoms like fever and severe headaches (Gondim, 2013). This causes many cases of encephalitis to go unnoticed. However, confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, seizures or problems with movement or senses becomes more prominent after some time (Gondim, 2013). Severe cases of encephalitis are rare but can be life-threatening as comas become more likely to occur. Sometimes, meningitis is confused with encephalitis but they are quite different. Meningitis is the inflammation of the protective layer of the brain that shields it (Gondim, 2013). With that said, sometimes patients have meningoencephalitis which is having both meningitis and encephalitis.
Causes and Pathology
Encephalitis can develop due to infections by viruses, bacterium, parasites or fungi or when the immune system responds to a previous infection and mistakenly attacks brain tissue (Gondim, 2013). These two types of encephalitis are called Primary Encephalitis and Secon...
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Nagami also had to deal with the limits of medicine in dealing with her cases. The chapter dealing with AIDS, chicken pox, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis displayed the limits of medicine. In each of these cases the patients involved died even though Dr. Nagami and her colleagues tried to prevent their deaths. In the case of AIDS and the encephalitis advances have been made in treatment of the disease since Dr. Nagami first encountered them. At the time of the cases however there was very little that could be done to save the patients. Some cases like the chickenpox simply overran the body and any treatment that was
Abstract: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy is caused by a prion, which is an infectious agent comprised solely of protein. The prion is a degenerate form of a normal cellular protein found in the brain and in nervous tissue. It targets the normal protein and causes the normal protein to change its shape. When enough of the prion is produced, the cell dies and symptoms of the disease are expressed.
there is a disease-causing agent involved with Guillain-Barre it has been classified as a disorder,
Creutzfeldt-Jakob is a fatal, progrossive and incurable neurologic disorder which affects the brain in a destructive way. Globally, it attacks one person in every one million people. Specifically, at United State there are more than 300 cases per year. However, it is extremely complicated to diagnose, so the number of cases might get higher in the future. CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) symptoms usually occur in later life for women and men whose ages are between 60 and 70. This essay displays a definition of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease based on its identity, causes, symptoms, risk factors and treatment.
The details on Rasmussen’s encephalitis were very bleak at the time when the men began their
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease attributed to single, sporadic, or repetitive brain trauma, including concussions and subconcussive hits (Baugh et al., 2012; Wortzel et al., 2013). This disease was originally referred to as dementia pugilistica, and nicknamed “punch drunk,” because individuals suffering from this disorder would present symptoms that were similar to someone’s mannerisms while being intoxicated (Wortzel et al., 2013). This “drunken” behavior is thought to be attributed to the cognitive, mood, and behavioral alterations as a result of the repetitive hits to the brain over an extended period of time. Because individuals suffering from this disease are often exposed to conditions that allow them to sustain blows to the head multiple times, the populations most often examined in these studies are athletes (football, boxing, rugby) and/or individuals in the military (McKee et al., 2009). Individuals can be symptom free for several years (Baugh et al., 2012). The onset of symptoms are sometimes seen about eight to ten years after an individual retires from their sport, which roughly equates to someone aged thirty to fifty yeas old (Baugh et al., 2012; Wortzel et al., 2013; Karantzoulis and Randolph, 2013). As with all diseases, symptoms can range from mild to severe. Researchers have found a positive correlation between the number of brain injuries sustained during a length of time playing a sport and the severity of symptoms (McKee et al., 2009).
healthy proteins into the infectious state. There is no cure and the disease is fatal but to this year, there
Many people have already been exposed to Epstein-Barr virus as young children, but only thirty-five to fifty percent of cases develop into infectious mononucleosis. When children are infected, the child may show a few symptoms, but most likely will not be diagnosed with mono. Once infected with the Epstein-Barr virus, a person will carry it for the rest of their life. If someone receives the virus and does not develop mono, the virus lies dormant until it is activated by another attack. It can be spread by cou...
Meningitis, it’s an infection in the cerebral spinal fluid and inflammation of the meninges; the three outer layers of the brain. To be more specific, those three layers are called the Dura mater, Arachnoid mater, and the Pia mater. There are three main types of meningitis that will be discussed throughout this paper; viral, bacterial, and fungal. Each form is very similar but they all vary in terms of causative organisms, treatment and severity. Although meningitis is not very common, it can become very severe and always needs to be treated immediately.
Meningitis is a disease caused by inflammation of the protective membrane of the brain and spinal cord, called the meninges. Usually meningitis is caused by either a bacteria or a virus, but in less common cases, meningitis can possibly be caused by certain medications or injuries. The most common way that meningitis is contracted is by bacteria or viruses that infect the body and spread from the bloodstream to the meninges by cerebrospinal fluid. Viral meningitis is more frequently seen and is not usually severe. In more serious cases, viral meningitis may cause prolonged fever or seizures. On the other hand, bacterial meningitis is very serious and must be treated immediately in order to prevent brain damage or even death. Both types of meningitis share the same symptoms which makes it very important to see a doctor to determine the severity of the disease. The severity of meningitis depends on a person's age, health, and also the cause. Meningitis can range from very mild to very severe. The likely hood of death is highest in someone who suffered a seizure in the first 24 hours, ...
Bacterial meningitis is severe in most cases. Many people fully recover but for those who are less fortunate it may cause brain damage leading to learning disabilities and hearing loss. There are many different pathogens that cause bacterial meningitis. The most common here in the United States are Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Neisseria meningitidis. These bacteria can be transmitted through direct contact with the nose and throat secretions of an infected person. The main reservoirs for these bacteria are humans but can also be the environment, mainly from the soil.
The exact cause of Dementia is damage to the brain cells; it affects the way the brain cells are able to communicate with one another. When the cells aren’t able to communicate, it commonly disturbs thinking, behavior, and feelings. Synapse or neuron to neuron functioning is dismal which results in confusion and communication problems. Many things can cause damage to the brain cells such as, diseases that cause deterioration in the brain like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Strokes, nutritional deficiencies, and head injuries can all also cause the on set of Dementia in a person. The symptoms of Dementia are widely varied, but at least two or more mental functions must be significantly weakened to be considered to have Dementia. Memory loss and the ability to focus and pay attention much are two common symptoms seen in patients who have Dementia. Memory loss is usually the earliest and most noticeable symptom (WebMD 2011). The mechanism that causes Dementia is also the mechanism that causes the symptoms to start appearing. Causes and symptoms go hand in hand in the case of Dementia.
Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. It is common in babies, children, teenagers and young adults. It can cause blood poisoning and affect the brain and nerves. Viral meningitis can make you very sick, but it often doesn’t leave lingering effects. Bacterial meningitis is more serious. It progresses rapidly and can cause permanent damage or even become life-threatening. Stiff neck and back are common in meningitis. It may become difficult to turn your neck at all. In severe cases, the head, neck, and spine become painfully rigid and arched (opisthotonos). Babies and young children are more likely to experience opisthotonos than older people. A baby with meningitis may produce a high-pitched
Mark H. Beers, MD. "The Merck Manual of Medical Information." Mark H. Beers, MD. The Merck Manual of Medical Information. Whitehouse Station NJ: Merck & CO., INC, 2003. 1630-1631.
The patient has also been suffering from frequent fevers in the past two months. He has also suffered from frequent headaches but has always taken painkillers (Bloland & Williams, 2003, p. 58). On fevers, the patient has frequently visited a local health clinic that has never done any diagnosis but has given medication, which reduces the fever.