Brain & Nervous System What Are the Types of Encephalitis? By Michelle Pugle Michelle Pugle Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Michelle Pugle is an expert health writer with nearly a decade of experience contributing accurate and accessible health information to authority publications. Learn about our editorial process Published on June 24, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Anju Goel, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Anju Goel, MD, MPH LinkedIn Anju Goel, MD, MPH, is a board-certified physician who specializes in public health, communicable disease, diabetes, and health policy. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Causes and Symptoms Types of Encephalitis Diagnosis Treatment and Prevention Summary Encephalitis refers to inflammation of the brain. It is generally caused by an infection, usually a viral one, or an autoimmune response. The inflammation causes the brain to swell, which can lead to headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, mental confusion, and seizures. Encephalitis is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. How Common Is Encephalitis? Encephalitis affects 10 to 15 people per 100,000 each year, with more than 250,000 patients diagnosed in the last decade alone in the United States. Encephalitis can be primary or secondary. Primary encephalitis is when a virus infects the brain, while secondary encephalitis is caused by an infection from a different part of your body that traveled to the brain. There are several types of encephalitis, and they are a result of different types of viruses and other causes. Jamie Grill / Getty Images Causes and Symptoms The three most common causes of encephalitis in the United States are: Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 Arboviruses, which are transmitted from infected blood-sucking insects like ticks or mosquitos Enteroviruses In extremely rare cases, a Lyme disease bacterial infection or the rabies virus can cause encephalitis. Being infected does not necessarily mean you will develop encephalitis, though. Symptoms include: Decreased appetite Fatigue Feeling sick Nausea or vomiting Fever Headache Seizures Behavioral changes Confusion Problems with speech or hearing Stiff neck Infections That Cause Headaches and a Fever Types of Encephalitis Epidemic Encephalitis Enterovirus can enter your gastrointestinal tract or respiratory system and cause an infection. They can travel to the central nervous system. It can then cause the death of neurons and, unique to this type of encephalitis, paralysis. On the other hand, arborviruses enter your bloodstream when an infected insect (typically a tick or mosquito) bites you. Symptoms of this infection include light sensitivity and extreme weakness. There have been outbreaks in recent years in the United States of several types of encephalitis, such as West Nile encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis. Travelers abroad are most at risk for Japanese encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis. People can be infected by the bite of infected Ixodes ricinus ticks. This usually happens in those who visit or work in forests, fields, or pastures. You can also get the infection by consuming unpasteurized dairy products from infected cows, goats, or sheep. The risk of getting the disease is greatest from April through August, when ticks are most active. Sporadic Encephalitis Herpes simplex type 1 and type 2 are commonly contracted during childhood. It causes sporadic encephalitis, and is most commonly seen in the 20 to 40 age group. Symptoms are very similar to those of other types of encephalitis, but people with this infection can also have altered levels of consciousness. Rabies is an extremely rare cause of encephalitis in the United States. It is transmitted when rabid animals bite humans. The virus differs from all other viruses causing encephalitis because it goes undetected by the immune system and targets the central nervous system. Unique symptoms of encephalitis caused by rabies include: Signs of autonomic dysfunction, including excessive sweating and salivating and pupil dilation Progressive and debilitating fear of swallowing waterPhobic spasms in response to stimuli like fear-stricken jerks in response to noises Autoimmune Encephalitis This is a noninfectious type of encephalitis. It can be a result of an autoimmune disorder that has been triggered by an infection. NMDA-receptor encephalitis (Anti-N-methyl D-aspartate encephalitis) is the most common type of autoimmune encephalitis. It presents in the early stages as a viral illness and then with psychotic symptoms that may be missed or misdiagnosed as schizophrenia symptoms. Symptoms include: Upper respiratory problems Paranoia Hyper-religiosity Agitation to point of combativeness Autoimmune Diseases That Can Be Fatal Diagnosis Early diagnosis is important to effective treatment of encephalitis. The diagnostic process will begin with the doctor taking a medical history and performing a physical exam. Your doctor will then order tests to check for infection, including: Neurological exam: Assesses motor skills and sensory functions Blood, urine, and body secretion screening: Detects antibodies and foreign proteins A spinal tap: Tests for bacteria, blood, viruses, glucose, and white blood cells as well as well protein and antibody levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Computed tomography (CT) scan: Checks for inflammation in the brain Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Checks for brain or spinal cord inflammation, infection, tumors, or other conditions Electroencephalography (EEG): Identifies abnormal brain waves that could indicate viral infection Encephalitis is an infection of the brain Treatment and Prevention Treatment options for encephalitis include: Antiviral medications: These drugs can be used to treat viral encephalitis, such as Zovirax (acyclovir). Immunosuppressants: These can be added to your existing medication regime to treat autoimmune encephalitis. Anticonvulsants: These medications can help with seizure prevention and reduce the frequency of them happening. Corticosteroids: They can be used to reduce brain swelling. Artificial respiration: Respirators can help with breathing difficulties. Comprehensive rehabilitation: This can help treat physical, speech, or occupational dysfunction. Steps to prevent encephalitis infection can include: Protect yourself from insect bites, especially in areas with known cases, with DEET bug sprayWear light-colored clothing in wooded or grassy areas (tiny bugs are easier to detect on lighter colors) Practice mosquito control measures by using screen doors and mosquito netting to keep bugs out and spraying repellent or insecticide (permethrin) to keep them awayDry up any pools of water on your lawn or outdoor areaLimit your nighttime outdoor activitiesAvoid unpasteurized milk or dairy productsGet vaccinated against some types of encephalitisMaintain proper hand hygiene (frequent washing with soap and water) and do not share utensils, food, and glasses with people who have or may have encephalitis Summary Encephalitis, regardless of the cause, is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. If you have been outside and begin having symptoms of encephalitis, you may have become infected with a virus carried by insects. A Word From Verywell While many types of encephalitis are rare, you can never be too careful. If infected, the illness can progress quickly and cause life-threatening symptoms. If you are concerned about symptoms, reach out to your doctor while they are mild. Do not wait for them to resolve on their own (they won’t). Talk to your local clinic or community center about your risk factors and your area’s history of active cases. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Encephalitis. Nemours Kids Health. Encephalitis. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Meningitis and encephalitis fact sheet. Chen BS, Lee HC, Lee KM, Gong YN, Shih SR. Enterovirus and encephalitis. Front Microbiol. 2020 Feb 20;11:261. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2020.00261 John Hopkins Medicine. Types of encephalitis. Mahadevan A, Suja MS, Mani RS, Shankar SK. Perspectives in diagnosis and treatment of rabies viral encephalitis: Insights from pathogenesis. Neurotherapeutics. 2016 Jul;13(3):477-492. doi:10.1007/s13311-016-0452-4 Ford B, McDonald A, Srinivasan S. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: a case study and illness overview. Drugs Context. 2019 Aug 30;8:212589. doi:10.7573/dic.212589