encephalitis

noun

en·​ceph·​a·​li·​tis in-ˌse-fə-ˈlī-təs 

plural encephalitides in-ˌse-fə-ˈli-tə-ˌdēz 

: inflammation of the brain that is caused especially by infection with a virus (such as herpes simplex or West Nile virus) or less commonly by bacterial or fungal infection or autoimmune reaction

Note: Encephalitis may be asymptomatic or present with mild to severe symptoms (such as fever, headache, confusion, seizures, or loss of consciousness) sometimes progressing to coma or death.

encephalitic

in-ˌse-fə-ˈli-tik 

adjective

Examples of encephalitis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Reasons for hospitalization include the need for management of severe pain, but also pharyngitis limiting oral intake, encephalitis (brain inflammation), eye lesions, acute kidney injury and myocarditis (heart inflammation). —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 8 Sep. 2024

Other health conditions that may cause echolalia include ADHD, aphasia, a head injury, dementia, developmental delays, encephalitis, Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia, anxiety, and stroke. —Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 7 Sep. 2024

State health officials, unable to determine what was making people sick, sent brain tissue samples from three encephalitis cases across the country to Dr. Ian Lipkin's laboratory at the University of California, Irvine. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024

In a small percentage of cases, measles can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and a progressive neurological disorder (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis), which develops five to 10 years after an initial infection. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 4 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing encephalitis

• eastern equine encephalitis
• equine encephalitis
• Powassan encephalitis
• Saint Louis encephalitis
• St. Louis encephalitis
• Venezuelan equine encephalitis
• western equine encephalitis
• West Nile encephalitis

Kids Definition

encephalitis

noun

en·​ceph·​a·​li·​tis in-ˌsef-ə-ˈlīt-əs 

(ˌ)en-

: inflammation of the brain

also : a disease marked by encephalitis

Medical Definition

encephalitis

noun

en·​ceph·​a·​li·​tis in-ˌsef-ə-ˈlīt-əs 

plural encephalitides -ˈlit-ə-ˌdēz 

: inflammation of the brain that is caused especially by infection with a virus (such as herpes simplex, varicella zoster, or West Nile virus) or less commonly by bacterial or fungal infection or autoimmune reaction

Note: Encephalitis may be asymptomatic or present with mild to severe symptoms (such as fever, headache, confusion, seizures, or loss of consciousness) sometimes progressing to coma or death.

encephalitic

-ˈlit-ik 

adjective