Brain fever is inflammation of the brain or its membranes, causing a fever. Meningitis affects the membranes and is caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infection, while encephalitis affects the brain and is usually caused by a viral infection. Diagnosis involves tests such as lumbar puncture, EEG, or brain biopsy. Treatment depends on the cause, with bacterial meningitis requiring intensive treatment with antibiotics. Mild cases of encephalitis may need no treatment, while severe cases may require anti-inflammatory medication.
Brain fever refers to any condition that causes the brain or any part of the brain to become inflamed, resulting in a fever as one of the symptoms. Conditions described as brain fever include meningitis and encephalitis. Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, while encephalitis is inflammation of the brain itself.
Meningitis is a brain fever that affects the meninges, or the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, and is caused by a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. Viral infection is the most common cause of meningitis. Symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache and neck stiffness. Patients sometimes mistake meningitis symptoms for flu symptoms. All meningitis, whether viral, bacterial or fungal, is medically serious and requires prompt treatment by a doctor, but bacterial meningitis is the most dangerous of the three and constitutes a medical emergency.
Inflammation of the brain, also known as encephalitis, is usually caused by a viral infection. Encephalitis can sometimes go away on its own, but because it can be potentially serious, any person experiencing these symptoms should seek a doctor’s care. Symptoms of encephalitis include fever, joint pain, and fatigue. A severe infection can cause symptoms such as seizures, personality changes, and localized paralysis.
Diagnosing this condition, whether it’s meningitis or encephalitis, usually involves a number of tests. A diagnostic procedure common to both conditions is lumbar puncture or lumbar puncture, which involves collecting a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for analysis. In the case of bacterial meningitis, lumbar puncture can sometimes help doctors find out which specific bacteria is responsible for the condition. Meningitis can also be diagnosed through blood tests or by X-rays or other means of imaging. Diagnosing encephalitis may involve procedures such as electroencephalography (EEG) or brain biopsy.
Treatment of meningitis depends on what’s causing the brain fever. If the infection is viral, doctors usually advise patients to rest and drink plenty, and to take pain medication as needed. Bacterial meningitis, however, requires intensive treatment with powerful antibiotics. The exact type of antibiotic your doctor chooses depends on the bacteria causing the infection. Cerebrospinal fever caused by bacteria can kill a person within days if left untreated.
Cases of encephalitis are sometimes mild and need no treatment other than rest, fluids, and pain medication. Since encephalitis is usually caused by viruses, treatment can be a challenge. When this type of brain fever is severe, however, doctors will prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to help reduce intracranial pressure and swelling.
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