There are two main types of encephalitis: Primary encephalitis (acute viral encephalitis), which is caused by a direct viral infection of the spinal cord and brain, and secondary encephalitis, which can result from the complications of a current viral infection. In rare cases, bacteria can also cause encephalitis.

Causes

Viruses that can cause encephalitis include:

    • Measles
    • Mumps
    • Polio
    • Rabies
    • Rubella (German measles)
    • Varicella (chickenpox)
    • Adenovirus – any of the group of viruses responsible for respiratory diseases (including a form of the common cold, pneumonia, croup and bronchitis) and infection of the stomach and intestine, eyes (conjunctivitis) and bladder (cystitis)
    • Coxsackievirus – any of the viruses that live in the gastrointestinal tract that produce a disease with a fever and rash
    • Cytomegalovirus – a kind of herpes virus that usually produces very mild symptoms in an infected person but may cause severe neurological damage in people with weakened immune systems and in the newborn
    • Eastern equine encephalitis virus (sleeping sickness) – one of the most serious among all the mosquito-borne viruses
    • Echovirus – a group of enteroviruses (found in contaminated water) that may infect the gastrointestinal tract and cause diseases such as respiratory infections, a mild form of meningitis, and diarrhoea in newborn infants
    • West Nile virus – a disease primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito that affects the central nervous system. The mosquitoes are infected by feeding on infected birds.

Prevention

    • Avoid sharing food, utensils, drinking glasses and other objects with a person who may be exposed to or have the infection. People who have been exposed to someone with bacterial meningitis may have to take antibiotics for a few days as a preventive measure.
    • Wash your hands often with soap and rinse under running water.
    • Lessen the risk of being bitten by an infected mosquito or other insect by limiting outdoor activities at night, wearing long-sleeved clothing when outdoors, using insect repellents that contain DEET, and ridding lawn and outdoor areas of pools of water, in which mosquitoes breed.
    • Vaccinate children against viruses that can cause encephalitis (measles, mumps). (The only vaccine currently available for prevention is for Japanese encephalitis.)
    • Special consideration should be given to the elderly and pregnant women. The elderly (over 55 years of age) have a higher chance of developing symptoms with infection. The Japanese encephalitis virus can infect the foetus and cause death. Therefore, these two groups should be cautious when travelling abroad.

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EAP) is available 24 hours a day. If you want to know more about encephalitis, call us on the EAP number.