01. Decoding Encephalitis, Understanding Encephalitis
February 22nd marks World Encephalitis Day. Statistics reveal that approximately 80% of the global population remains unaware of what encephalitis is! I recall a childhood autumn when my parents mentioned my cousin fell ill with a high fever—they believed he was possessed by a weasel. He rambled incoherently, uttering words his parents couldn't comprehend.Looking back now, perhaps my cousin had encephalitis.
On December 2, 2020, Guangzhou Daily published an article titled "Cold Sweats of Fear! 9-Year-Old Girl Claims She Sees Deceased People, Parents Spend Over 400,000 Yuan on 'Evil-Warding'!"But..."
Image source: Internet (unrelated to text)
Excerpt: "Ms. Wang's daughter Qingqing, aged 9 in Fujian, suddenly began experiencing limb tremors over a year ago. More alarmingly, she developed hallucinations, claiming she could see deceased individuals.At home, she would suddenly point at empty spaces and say, 'There's a person here.' After diagnosis, doctors suspected Qingqing might have autoimmune encephalitis. Subsequent antibody tests for autoimmune encephalitis came back positive. Following treatment, her tremors ceased, her insomnia significantly improved, and she no longer experienced hallucinations. She was successfully discharged from the hospital.
Encephalitis is a severe but treatable critical neurological condition. Symptoms primarily include fever, headache, convulsions, nausea, vomiting, and varying degrees of impaired consciousness (such as confusion or drowsiness). In severe cases, it can lead to coma or even death. Based on its cause, encephalitis is classified into infectious encephalitis and autoimmune encephalitis.
Infectious encephalitis occurs when pathogens infect the brain. Common clinical causes include herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, cryptococcal infections, fungal infections, and bacterial infections. These infections trigger inflammation in the central nervous system, leading to symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, vomiting,epileptic seizures, confusion, slowed responses, memory impairment, and disturbances in time and spatial orientation. Autoimmune encephalitis, however, is a form of encephalitis mediated by autoimmune mechanisms.Autoimmune encephalitis occurs primarily when the body produces specific antibodies that "attack" its own brain tissue. The most common form is anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis, where these receptors are closely linked to learning and memory. Consequently, symptoms primarily manifest as cognitive impairments, such as memory deficits and false memories; impaired logical thinking and delusions; as well as psychiatric behavioral abnormalities and seizures.
02. Encephalitis Experts, Online Free Consultation
If you or someone you know exhibits symptoms suggestive of encephalitis, consult an expert to determine if it is encephalitis. Or, if already diagnosed with encephalitis and undergoing treatment, wish to consult a doctor again? During this special period of the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, visiting hospitals for treatment is often inconvenient. Scan the QR code to add the assistant's WeChat and participate in the World Encephalitis Day free consultation with encephalitis experts.
Experts from the National Encephalitis Collaborative Group will provide free video/phone consultations on February 21st. To ensure thorough understanding of your condition or concerns, please submit your questions in advance. Due to limited consultation time, priority will be given to severe or complex encephalitis cases and patients from affected regions. Unanswered questions during the event will be followed up by neurology specialists from Doctor Wei Yi*.
Registration: Follow the Weiyi Doctor official account, reply with "Free Consultation," and submit case information as prompted.
The National Encephalitis Collaborative Group focuses on encephalitis in China. At the First China Encephalitis Conference held in Beijing on October 18-19, 2019, the group awarded plaques to the first 43 selected specialized encephalitis diagnosis and treatment centers.Specialized medical resources across regions are crucial for standardizing encephalitis diagnosis and treatment while improving patient care standards. This marks a milestone advancement in China's encephalitis management.
03. Mutual Support, Overcoming Encephalitis Together
Doctors and patients unite to conquer encephalitis!
Past World Encephalitis Day and Academic Events Review
Patient Artwork and 7-Day Healthy Living Challenge Highlights
04. Authoritative Guidance, Warm Companionship
Welcome to the Encephalitis Patient Community. Here, you can access scientific knowledge, expert Q&A, free consultations, specialist appointments, and exclusive benefits in our doctor-patient exchange groups.In 2020, the Wei Yi Doctor Online Consultation Platform launched three "7-Day Healthy Habit Challenge" campaigns, encouraging patients and caregivers to cultivate positive lifestyle habits by consistently engaging in one uplifting activity for seven consecutive days.Participants enthusiastically embraced both active and passive routines: maintaining daily habits like drinking 6-8 glasses of water, crafting, or cooking; cultivating learning habits such as calligraphy practice, journaling, vocabulary memorization, or English listening exercises; and committing to physical training like daily jump rope sessions or weekly runs. The entire campaign radiated positivity, with group members daily encouraging each other and sharing their progress.Some participants are still going strong today—they deserve flowers and applause! The check-in group remains active. Those who've persevered are welcome to add Dr. Wei Yi's official account and note "Join Group" in the message.