22nd February is a global awareness day for people that have been affected by encephalitis.
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain, caused by some viruses, as well as bacteria, fungi, or parasites. It could also be caused by some autoimmune diseases. The most common symptoms include headache, confusion, drowsiness, fever, seizures, memory problems, altered personality or uncharacteristic behavior, or the inability to speak or control movements.
In some cases, encephalitis can be life-threatening. Timely diagnosis and treatment are important because it is difficult to predict how the disease will affect each individual. Encephalitis needs to be treated in a hospital and the earlier the treatment is started, the more successful it is likely to be.
Some people eventually make a full recovery from encephalitis, although this can be a long and frustrating process. Most people, however, are left with long-term problems caused by damage to their brains.
While there are treatment options available, more research, information, and efforts are needed, in order to provide better healthcare for people that have been affected by this disease.