Does encephalitis cause fever?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on January 24, 2025
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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 Tang Bo
Neurology
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How is a brain encephalitis puncture performed?

The encephalitis you mentioned is considered a central nervous system infection. In this case, a definitive diagnosis requires a lumbar puncture, which you referred to as a puncture. The lumbar puncture requires the patient to be in the lateral recumbent position, then the puncture is performed in the interspaces between L1-L3 or L4-L5 on the back to collect cerebrospinal fluid and conduct tests. This also allows for the examination of pathogens and pressure measurements. After the lumbar puncture, the patient needs to lie flat for six hours with a pillow removed to prevent headaches due to low cranial pressure.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What are the symptoms of encephalitis?

The clinical manifestations of encephalitis are complex and varied, primarily caused by infections from pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. There are numerous clinical symptoms, with fever being quite common; patients generally exhibit significant fevers, which can reach up to 38 degrees Celsius or even as high as 40 degrees Celsius. Headache is also a very common clinical manifestation of encephalitis, with some patients experiencing severe headaches accompanied by pronounced nausea and vomiting. Additionally, some patients may exhibit psychiatric symptoms, which mainly include incoherent speech, hallucinations, and failing to recognize family members. Some patients may experience cognitive impairments, such as diminished memory, and significant deficits in computational and judgment abilities. In severe cases, some patients may have epileptic seizures, characterized by convulsions of the limbs. Overall, the manifestations of encephalitis are diverse and can range from simple fever and headache to severe conditions such as psychiatric symptoms, cognitive impairments, and epilepsy.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How to relieve headache from encephalitis

Encephalitis is mainly divided into viral encephalitis, bacterial encephalitis, and tubercular meningitis, among others. Encephalitis usually causes patients to experience fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. The cause of headaches includes the pain response due to inflammation stimulating the meninges. Moreover, these infections can cause an increase in intracranial pressure, leading to significant symptoms in patients such as headache, nausea, and vomiting. To alleviate headaches, it is important to actively treat the primary disease. This includes administering antiviral drugs for viral infections, and antibiotics for bacterial infections. If the headache is caused by increased intracranial pressure, it is crucial to actively administer dehydrating agents and drugs that lower intracranial pressure to reduce it, thereby relieving the headache. Additionally, the use of glucocorticoids can be combined to manage the treatment, suppress the inflammatory response, and alleviate pain. If the pain is significant, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may also be administered to relieve the pain. The treatment of pain in encephalitis is a comprehensive issue that requires addressing the pathogen, dehydration, reduction of intracranial pressure, and symptomatic treatment.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Does encephalitis require hospitalization?

The severity of encephalitis can vary greatly; it is generally caused by viral infection. Among these viruses, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is particularly dangerous. Encephalitis caused by HSV can be very severe, with symptoms including high fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and other serious manifestations. Some patients may even experience seizures, coma, cognitive decline, and changes in mood and behavior. This type of encephalitis is very severe and definitely requires hospitalization. Typically, hospitalization lasts about 2 to 3 weeks, and proper antiviral treatment is necessary. Additionally, there are other forms of encephalitis caused by different viruses that are relatively milder and may even have a certain degree of self-healing properties. Generally, resting well, drinking plenty of water, and consuming fresh vegetables and fruits can lead to recovery. Therefore, whether hospitalization is necessary for encephalitis depends on the severity of the condition and the assessment of which virus has caused the infection. It cannot be generalized.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What tests are done for pediatric encephalitis?

Some auxiliary examinations are very necessary for pediatric encephalitis, which help in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of encephalitis. The main tests generally include the following: First, an electroencephalogram (EEG), which is the most commonly used examination. It is safe, non-invasive, and relatively accurate. Children with encephalitis will show light to moderate abnormalities in the EEG. Combined with the patient's history of fever and headache, it has important clinical significance for the diagnosis of encephalitis. The second important examination is cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If the encephalitis is severe, pathological changes in the cerebrospinal fluid can be seen on MRI. The third very important examination is lumbar puncture. Lumbar puncture can mainly determine the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid, the color of the cerebrospinal fluid, and analyze the levels of white blood cells, glucose, and chloride in the cerebrospinal fluid. This is crucial for diagnosing encephalitis and excluding other types of encephalitis.