Encephalitis
Encephalitis can be described as inflammation of the active tissues of the brain which is caused by any infection or an autoimmune response. The inflammation results in the swelling of the brain, which can cause stiff neck, headache, sensitivity to light, mental confusion and even seizures.
Encephalitis is estimated to strike 10–15 people per 100,000 each year. Encephalitis might be caused by infections or autoimmune conditions. That is a condition when the body’s own immune responses starts attacking the brain cells. Even with extensive testing and researches, the specific cause of encephalitis remains unknown to the medical practitioners in about 30%–40% of cases.
The rise in the number of cases of encephalitis are likely to continue as there is an increase in the identification of autoimmune causes. Emerging infections which includes the Zika, the chikungunya and the Powassan viruses are also recognized as potential contributor to this trend.