Encephalitis International

What is encephalitis?

Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain. It is caused either by an infection invading the brain (infectious encephalitis) or through the immune system attacking the brain in error (post-infectious or autoimmune encephalitis).

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Three people every minute are diagnosed with encephalitis.

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Our mission is to rebuild futures around the world by saving lives, accelerating awareness and driving research.

Your Stories

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Herpes Simplex Encephalitis - Sanjay's Story

All was well, on 3rd August 2019, until it wasn’t. My father, out of the blue, started having a headache in the evening. He got checked from his aunt (who is a doctor), and she suggested that we take him to the hospital in our hometown, Udaipur (India), as he had started stuttering. Upon reaching the hospital, his brain’s MRI was conducted and my father was admitted in the ICU. Over the course of the next few days, my father’s health deteriorated. He felt feverish, started drooling and passed urine. His blood test suggested that he had contracted an infection, due to which the doctors put him on steroids. Soon, he started losing control over the right side of his body, and my mother, his aunt and friends decided to take him to Bombay, where he can get better treatment. My brother was immediately called home from his job in Gurgaon. I was still in college and knew nothing about what had happened.

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Measles Encephalitis - Renee's Story

I collapsed.  I had fallen into a coma.  I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance and the doctor told my mother that I would most likely be a vegetable for the rest of my life. If I survived at all. There I was lying on a trolley in a coma but I saw everything. The next thing I remember was being moved through a long hall into a dark room with two nurses and a surgeon looming over me sticking a needle into my lower spine.  Still in a coma.  I travelled through a long tunnel at the end of which was a bright light and then back again as one of the nurses stroked my hair.

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Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) - Anji's Story

I awoke and intermittently struggled to move my right leg and had to really think about how to swallow, kind of like when you have tonsillitis and you are preparing for the razor blade feeling.  I was staying with friends who thought I was having a stroke and took me to hospital for assessment.  Things continued to deteriorate as the day went on and early hours of the morning I could no longer walk, talk, or move my right arm.  Panic set in.  Then I remember being transferred to another hospital by ambulance at approximately 2am.  I was in and out of consciousness but remember the ambulance man asking me questions and I remember thinking why?  I can't answer you so just stop!  When I got to the hospital my consultant was there waiting.  From here I remember very little for the best part of a week while they ran every test known to man twice!  Every day the consultant would assess me to see if I needed a high dependency unit. 

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Upcoming Events

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Encephalitis 2025 - Registration

3rd and 4th December 2025 Royal College of Physicians (RCP), London and virtually (Please note the attendance is both in-person and virtual. Those who register will be able to watch the Conference sessions on demand for 60 days after the event) Registrations are now open! (in-person and virtual tickets are available) Book your tickets here   […]

3 - 4 December 2025
Hybrid
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Illustration of two scientists and a human brain

My Brain & Medicine, Sweden

Please note this is a FREE in-person event only for patients diagnosed with encephalitis, their family members and caregivers. Venue: Elite Hotel Carolina Tower, Eugeniavägen 6, 171 64, Stockholm, Sweden  Room: Wilhelm Röntgen Hall Date:  Monday 26 January 2026 – 12.30 – 18.30hrs (CEST) (exact timings to be confirmed) Most of this event will be […]

26 January 2026
Sweden
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