Health Topics A-Z

What Are the Symptoms?

The symptoms of acute viral encephalitis and postinfectious encephalitis are quite similar and are usually sudden and severe. They include the following:

• Fever.
• Drowsiness, lethargy, and possibly coma.
• Headaches.
• Personality changes, irritability, or emotional outbursts.
• Confusion.
• Weakness in one or more areas of the body.
• Seizures.
• Bulging soft spots in infants.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You develop sudden or severe fever, drowsiness, lethargy, or headache.
• You notice personality changes, such as unusual irritability or emotional outbursts, or you become confused.
• You develop weakness in one or more areas of your body.
• You have a seizure.