Large Donner
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This just makes no sense to me, the below information is taken directly from the NHS on Encephalitis and it goes into some detail about viral onset, infectious and post infectious states, autoimmune issues, fatigue, joint pain, confusion drowsiness etc etc and how its can cause long term damage or be fatal etc. It even talks about chronic states where "inflammation develops slowly over many months and can be due to a condition such as HIV; in some cases, there's no obvious cause".
It talks about tick borne onsets also.
Yet mention ME which seems to describe pretty much the same thing as the below content does and its "controversial" and should be treated with CBT and GET.
Why does the NHS pretend that all of the above when under an ME or CFS banner is so "mysterious" and then go as far to allow NICE etc to treat it like a psychological issue? How can they possibly get away with pretending all of those issues when taken down in a patient history have no significance.
Isn't this Encephalitis issue the easiest challenge to the "evidence based" issues put down as blocks for accepting ME?
If there's Encephalitis its a precedent in medicine and science isn't it for accepting ME is "encephalitis" or at least that there's no "mystery" surrounding accepting such a mechanism for ME?
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Encephalitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
It talks about tick borne onsets also.
Yet mention ME which seems to describe pretty much the same thing as the below content does and its "controversial" and should be treated with CBT and GET.
Why does the NHS pretend that all of the above when under an ME or CFS banner is so "mysterious" and then go as far to allow NICE etc to treat it like a psychological issue? How can they possibly get away with pretending all of those issues when taken down in a patient history have no significance.
Isn't this Encephalitis issue the easiest challenge to the "evidence based" issues put down as blocks for accepting ME?
If there's Encephalitis its a precedent in medicine and science isn't it for accepting ME is "encephalitis" or at least that there's no "mystery" surrounding accepting such a mechanism for ME?
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Encephalitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Introduction
Encephalitis is a rare but serious condition that causes inflammation of the brain.
It usually begins with flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature,headache and joint pain.
More serious symptoms may then develop over the next few hours or days, including:
Flu-like symptoms that rapidly get worse and affect mental state should be treated as a medical emergency. Dial 999 immediately to request an ambulance.
- changes in mental state, such as confusion, drowsiness or disorientation
- seizures (fits)
- changes in personality and behaviour
Read more about the symptoms of encephalitis.
What causes encephalitis?
There are several different types of encephalitis and each type has a different cause. The most common types of encephalitis are:
There are also several types of encephalitis spread by mosquitoes, such as Japanese encephalitis, and ticks, such as tick-borne encephalitis. Encephalitis can also be caused by rabies.
- infectious – inflammation occurs as a direct result of an infection, which is often viral
- post-infectious – inflammation is caused by the immune system reacting to a previous infection, and can occur days, weeks or months after the initial infection
- autoimmune – inflammation is caused by the immune system reacting to a non-infectious cause, such as a tumour
- chronic – inflammation develops slowly over many months and can be due to a condition such as HIV; in some cases, there's no obvious cause
Read more about the causes of encephalitis.
In the UK, all types of encephalitis are relatively rare. The Encephalitis Society estimates that there are 4,000 case of encephalitis in the UK each year.
Anyone can be affected by encephalitis, but the very young and the very old are most at risk, because their immune systems tend to be weaker.
Treating encephalitis
Encephalitis needs urgent treatment, usually in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU). The earlier it's diagnosed, the more successful treatment is.
Treatment depends on the type of encephalitis you have, but may include:
Read more about diagnosing encephalitis and treating encephalitis.
- anti-viral medication
- steroid injections
- immunosuppressants (medicines that stop the immune system attacking healthy tissue)
Complications
Some people make a full recovery after having encephalitis. However, for many it can lead to permanent brain damage and complications, including:
Overall, about 10% of encephalitis cases are fatal.
- memory loss
- epilepsy
- personality and behavioural changes
- problems with attention, concentration, planning and problem solving
- fatigue (extreme tiredness)
Read more about the complications of encephalitis.
Preventing encephalitis
It's not always possible to prevent encephalitis. This is because it can be a rare complication of a relatively common infection.
The most effective way to reduce your risk of getting encephalitis is to ensure you have the MMR vaccine (for measles, mumps and rubella).
Practicing good hygiene – for example, regularly washing your hands with soap and warm water can help to reduce your risk of developing common infections.
Other vaccinations
Vaccinations are also available for Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis and encephalitis caused by rabies.
These types of encephalitis are rare in the UK, but more widespread in certain parts of the world. For example, rabies tends to be more common in Africa, Japanese encephalitis is more common in Asia, and the risk areas for tick-borne encephalitis are the forests of central, eastern and northern Europe.
You should discuss these specific vaccinations with your GP before travelling.
Read more about the Japanese encephalitis vaccination, preventing tick-borne encephalitis and the rabies vaccination.