Encephalitis

My year of unraveling is how a despairing Christy Morrill described nightmarish months when his immune system hijacked his brain. What's called autoimmune encephalitis attacks the organ that makes us us, and it can appear out of the blue. Morrill went for a bike ride with friends along the California coast, stopping for lunch, and they noticed nothing wrong. Neither did Morrill until his wife asked how it went and he'd forgotten. Morrill would get worse before he got better. Unhinged and fighting to see light, he wrote as delusions set in and holes in his memory grew. Of all the ways our immune system can run amok and damage the body instead of protecting it, autoimmune encephalitis is one of the most unfathomable. Seemingly healthy people abruptly spiral with confusion, memory loss, seizures, even psychosis. But doctors are getting better at identifying it, thanks to discoveries of a growing list of the rogue antibodies responsible that, if found in blood and spinal fluid, aid ..

The mother of a nine-year-old girl who died after contracting the so-called "brain-eating amoeba" says she is still struggling to comprehend the loss. "I cannot believe my daughter is gone," a sobbing mother said, adding that there was no clear information from health authorities on how the child became infected. The girl, hailing from Kozhikode, is among those who have succumbed in recent months to Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, a rare but almost always fatal brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri. Kerala has been grappling with a rare but deadly disease that has claimed the lives of 19 people in recent months. The culprit is a microscopic parasite known as Naegleria fowleri, more commonly called the "brain-eating amoeba", which causes a condition known as Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, or PAM. The infection is almost always fatal, killing more than 98 per cent of those who contract it. Over 70 cases have been reported in the state this year. The amoeba is found

A 45-year-old man died from amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare and often fatal brain infection, while undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, health officials said on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Ratheesh, a native of Sultan Bathery here. He was also suffering from cardiac issues, they said. As many as 11 people are now under treatment at the medical college in Kozhikode with the symptoms of the disease, the officials added. Three persons had succumbed to amoebic brain fever in the state in August. In view of the deaths, the Kerala Health department recently issued special guidelines for the treatment of amoebic meningoencephalitis, the rare brain infection caused by free-living amoeba in contaminated waters. According to health officials, amoebic meningoencephalitis is primarily contracted through swimming or bathing in contaminated water. A total of 42 cases have been reported across Kerala this year, they added.

Two people, including a three-month-old infant, have died from amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare and often fatal brain infection, while undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, health officials said on Monday. With these deaths, the toll from the amoebic brain fever in the state has risen to three within August, officials said. The deceased infant was the son of Abubacker Siddique from Omassery in this district and had been receiving treatment at the hospital for the past month. His condition worsened on Sunday, leading to his death in the ICU, an official said. The other victim, Ramla (52) of Kappil in Malappuram district, developed symptoms on July 8. She was initially treated at a private hospital and later shifted to Kozhikode Medical College as her condition deteriorated. According to health officials, eight other patients from Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. Earlier, on August 14, a ...

Addressing concerns, officials assured the public that no outbreak has occurred in Delhi, and most reported cases are from neighbouring states

Kanpur has reported an outbreak of acute necrotizing encephalitis (ANE)

Encephalitis has caused huge number deaths over last 40 years, will be eradicated from the Gorakhpur-Basti comissionary, if efforts undertaken in the last three years continue," CM Adityanath said

All year round, the level of air pollution in Delhi remains three times higher than the national standard

The matter has been posted for hearing after 10 days

The plea seeks a direction to urgently constitute a team of medical experts for treatment of children suffering from encephalitis

Investment in public health was preferred to job creation programmes and road building by 73% and 79% of respondents, respectively

The plea also sought a direction to the Centre for providing all necessary medical equipment and other supports for the effective treatment of the children

While doctors have maintained that the deaths occurred due to AES, state officials claimed that most of the victims, below the age of 10, have died due to hypoglycemia

While doctors have maintained that the deaths occurred due to AES, state officials claimed that most of the victims, below the age of 10, have died due to hypoglycemia

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan arrived in the state capital today to review public health measures for containment and management of the AES

The disease spreads from pigs to humans, mostly children, through mosquitoes