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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Ann Natl Acad Med Sci 2019; 55(02): 098-109
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1697767
Review Article
National Academy of Medical Sciences (India)

Viral Encephalitis: A Hard Nut to Crack

Alka Shukla
1   Department of Microbiology, Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
,
Mayank Gangwar
1   Department of Microbiology, Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
,
Sonam Rastogi
1   Department of Microbiology, Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
,
Gopal Nath
1   Department of Microbiology, Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
› Author Affiliations
Funding The authors gratefully acknowledge the support provided by Department of Health Research under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (Government of India), New Delhi, India, and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in the form of establishment of state level Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory network under scheme 5066.
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Publication Date:
02 October 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Viral encephalitis is inflammation of brain that manifests as neurological complication of viral infections. There are quite a good number of viruses, for example, human herpes virus, Japanese encephalitis, and enteroviruses that can result in such a dreadful condition. Geographical location, age, gender, immune status, and climatic conditions also contribute to the establishment of this disease in an individual. Clinical signs and symptoms include fever, headache, altered level of consciousness, changed mental status, body ache, seizures, nausea, and vomiting. Effective management of this disease relies on timely diagnosis that in turn depends on apt and suitable investigation techniques. Traditional investigations have thinned out these days owing to the fact that advanced molecular technologies have been introduced to the diagnostic field. Treatment of viral encephalitis mainly involves symptomatic relieve from fever, malaise, myalgia along with measures to reduce viral load in the patient. This review mentions about all the possible aspects of viral encephalitis starting from etiology to the management and preventive measures that include immunization and vector control.

Keywords

encephalitis - viral infection - pathogenesis - molecular techniques - management