Viral encephalitis classification

Template:Encephalitis Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editors-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, MBBS [2]

Overview

Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain, commonly caused by a viral infection. It can be classified into primary and secondary post infectious encephalitis.

Classification

• Primary encephalitis occurs when a virus or other infectious agent directly infects the brain.
• Secondary post infectious encephalitis is an auto-immune reaction of immune system in response to an infection elsewhere in the body. Secondary encephalitis often occurs two to three weeks after the initial infection. Rarely, secondary encephalitis occurs as a complication of vaccination against a viral infection.