WHO has published a new technical brief on encephalitis , a serious, life-threatening neurological condition characterized by inflammation of the brain.
Encephalitis affects people across all age groups, has high mortality and often leads to significant long-term complications (sequelae) including hearing loss, seizures, limb weakness, and difficulties with vision, speech, language, memory and communication. Globally in 2021, encephalitis was the fourth leading cause of neurological health loss (i.e. disability-adjusted life years, DALYs) in children aged under 5 years and the 13th across all age groups.
Many different pathogens can cause encephalitis. Herpes simplex (HSV) is the most common cause of encephalitis globally. Autoimmune encephalitis, an inflammatory brain disorder driven by the immune system, is also…