What is Encephalitis?
'''Encephalitis''' is [[acute (medicine)|sudden]] [[inflammation]] (swelling) in the [[brain]]. It is usually caused by [[virus]]es, [[bacteria]], or other [[pathogen]]s. As the brain swells, it can [[brain damage|get damaged]] when it gets crushed against the [[skull]]. Encephalitis can cause serious [[symptom]]s, like [[seizure]]s and [[stroke]]s, and can be [[fatal]].<ref name=ninds>{{Cite web |title = Meningitis and Encephalitis Fact Sheet |url = http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/encephalitis_meningitis/detail_encephalitis_meningitis.htm |website = www.ninds.nih.gov |publisher = National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) |accessdate = February 3, 2016 |archive-date = January 4, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140104212119/http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/encephalitis_meningitis/detail_encephalitis_meningitis.htm |url-status = dead }}</ref> In 2013, encephalitis killed about 77,000 people in the world.<ref name=GBD204>{{cite journal| authors=Naghavi M; Wang H; ''et al.'' 2014 |title=Global, regional, and national age-sex specific all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 240 causes of death, 1990-2013: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 |journal=The Lancet |year=2015 |pmid=25530442|doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61682-2|volume=385|issue=9963|pages=117–71|pmc=4340604}}</ref> ==Signs and symptoms== Usually, adults with encephalitis have a [[fever]] that starts suddenly, a [[headache]], [[mental confusion|confusion]], and sometimes seizures. Younger children or [[infant]]s may be irritable (easily upset), not want to eat, and have a fever. Usually, patients are either very tired or confused.<ref>{{cite web| title = Symptoms of encephalitis| url = http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Encephalitis/Pages/Symptoms.aspx| website = NHS Choices| publisher = National Health Service of the United Kingdom| date = December 16, 2014| accessdate = February 3, 2016| archive-date = January 5, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150105142821/http:/