Symptoms of Fever, Fatigue, and Headaches May Indicate a Brain Infection

Encephalitis is inflammation, irritation, and swelling of the brain typically caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Less commonly, encephalitis can occur due to an overactive immune system that mistakenly attacks healthy brain cells. It’s a rare condition that usually affects young children, older adults, and immunocompromised people (e.g., those who live with HIV or are undergoing cancer treatment).

People who develop encephalitis may experience symptoms like fever, fatigue, and headaches. Symptoms start mildly but progress quickly, flaring up 1-2 weeks after the initial infection.

Encephalitis symptoms vary from person to person and will depend on the severity of inflammation in your brain. In severe cases, symptoms can progress enough to cause life-threatening complications, so seeking care for your symptoms is essential.

Because encephalitis results from an infection, its common symptoms are very similar to those of a flu or a cold. This makes the early diagnosis of encephalitis difficult, and sometimes cases can go undiagnosed. Several thousand cases are reported yearly, but research suggests that the number is higher due to undiagnosed cases.

The timeline for encephalitis symptoms varies. Mild cases are short and can last one or two weeks. The first two weeks of infection are the acute phase of the disease when symptoms are at their peak. Severe cases can last several months and may take even longer to recover from.

During the early stages of encephalitis, it’s common to experience the following symptoms:

As the infection progresses, symptoms can also fluctuate, meaning that you sometimes feel better while other symptoms worsen.

When you experience encephalitis, your brain and spinal cord become inflamed, which can cause several neurologic (brain-related) symptoms. This infection affects the normal function of your neurons (brain cells), causing symptoms such as:

Memory difficulty
Involuntary movements or seizures
Clumsiness or difficulty with balance
Difficulty speaking
Impaired vision, double vision, or vision loss
Body stiffness, rigidity, and tremors
Loss of sensation in some parts of the body

Because of how encephalitis affects the brain, it’s not uncommon for people with the infection to experience changes in their psychological well-being. As a result, you may experience:

Hallucinations
Paranoia
Sudden aggressive behavior
Anxiety or panic attacks
Difficulty sleeping
Compulsive behaviors

Encephalitis can affect people assigned male or female at birth equally. Infections cause most cases of encephalitis. However, autoimmune encephalitis (which causes infection due to an overactive immune system) does have some differences based on sex, which affects which subtype of autoimmune encephalitis you might develop.

People assigned female at birth are more likely to be affected by NMDA receptor encephalitis. NMDA is a protein on the surface of neurons that controls communication between brain cells. Males are more likely to experience CASPR2 encephalitis. CASPR2 is a protein involved in communicating with brain cells and antibodies.

More research is being done to establish sex and gender differences in encephalitis development.

Encephalitis can affect children with a viral infection. A herpes infection usually causes cases of encephalitis in infants and newborns. It’s often harder to spot encephalitis symptoms in children because warning signs can look similar to other infections. These symptoms include:

A bulge in the soft spot on the top of their head
Severe and sudden vomiting
Poor feeding
Body stiffness
Crying that gets worse when the child is picked up

If you suspect your child may be at risk for encephalitis, it’s important to seek care from their pediatrician immediately, as the infection can be more severe in young children.

While encephalitis is an infection, the condition itself is not contagious. However, the viral and bacterial infections (e.g., herpes, West Nile, etc.) that can cause encephalitis are contagious. These infections can spread through:

Washing your hands regularly, cooking your meats all the way, drinking clean water, getting vaccinated, and avoiding contact with people with an active infection can help reduce your risk of developing an infection that can later cause encephalitis.

Encephalitis’s symptoms progress rapidly a week or two after the initial infection, and seeking care for this condition is essential, even if symptoms feel mild at first. Encephalitis can progress quickly and increase the risk of complications, so seeing a healthcare provider as soon as possible is important.

Some symptoms warrant more immediate medical attention. You should visit your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Loss of consciousness
Muscle weakness and paralysis
Seizures
Severe headaches
Poor responsiveness
A rapid change in your cognitive functions, including memory loss and impaired judgment

Encephalitis causes infection and inflammation in the brain, usually due to an underlying bacterial or viral infection. Common symptoms of this condition can include fatigue, fever, and headaches. However, encephalitis can also affect your brain functions and psychological well-being.

Encephalitis can often be hard to diagnose because symptoms in the early stages can mimic signs of other illnesses. However, if you have symptoms, even if they’re mild, contacting your healthcare provider is essential so you can reduce the risk of severe complications and receive proper treatment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, encephalitis is a serious condition characterized by inflammation of the brain, often caused by viral or bacterial infections. The symptoms of encephalitis can vary from mild to severe and can affect different parts of the brain, leading to a range of neurological and psychiatric symptoms. Seeking prompt medical care is essential to prevent further complications and ensure proper treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is encephalitis contagious?

Encephalitis itself is not contagious, but the viral and bacterial infections that cause it can be spread through various means such as close contact with infected individuals, contaminated foods, or insect bites.

Who is at risk for developing encephalitis?

Individuals who are immunocompromised, young children, and older adults are at higher risk of developing encephalitis. Certain infections and autoimmune conditions can also increase the likelihood of developing this condition.

How can encephalitis be prevented?

Preventing the underlying infections that can lead to encephalitis is key to reducing the risk of developing this condition. This includes practicing good hygiene, getting vaccinated, and avoiding close contact with individuals who have active infections.

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