Definition

1. Noun:
   • Inflammation of the brain: A medical condition characterized by swelling and irritation of the brain tissue. It is most commonly caused by a viral infection, but can also result from bacteria, autoimmune diseases, or other causes. The term is synonymous with encephalitis.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient was hospitalized with a suspected case of cephalitis after presenting with a high fever and confusion.
  • Viral cephalitis can sometimes be a serious complication of common infections like herpes simplex or measles.
  • Early diagnosis and treatment of cephalitis are crucial to prevent potential long-term neurological damage.

Advanced Usage

• The term cephalitis is used in formal medical and clinical contexts. In modern scientific and medical literature, the term encephalitis is more frequently used.
• The historical synonym is noted as being obsolete and is no longer used in scientific contexts.

Variants and Related Words

• Encephalitis (n): The more common contemporary term for inflammation of the brain. It is often used interchangeably with .
• Meningoencephalitis (n): A condition involving inflammation of both the brain () and the meninges (the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord).
• Encephalopathic (adj): Relating to or suffering from a disorder or disease of the brain.

Synonyms

• Encephalitis
• Brain inflammation

Associated Symptoms (Contextual Information)

Common symptoms associated with cephalitis include: * Headache * Neck stiffness or pain * Drowsiness or lethargy * Nausea and vomiting * Fever * Confusion or disorientation * Seizures

Noun

1. inflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus; symptoms include headache and neck pain and drowsiness and nausea and fever (`phrenitis' is no longer in scientific use)