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  1. Raising awareness
  2. Your stories

Your Stories

Your stories help to raise awareness of encephalitis among the general public and encourage and inspire others whose lives are only just beginning after encephalitis.

Submit your story

We also welcome short films, vlogs, music and more - if you would like to submit any media to us for consideration, please email [email protected] or call +44(0)1653 692583.

A letter from your brain

A letter from your brain

A Letter from Your Brain by Stephanie St. Claire may help you understand what happens with your brain after encephalitis. Read more

Published: 25th January, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Ailís' story

Ailís' story

Composer and theatre writer Ailís Ní Ríain was five-years-old when she became ill with encephalitis Read more

Published: 16th April, 2020

Updated: 22nd April, 2020

Author: Andrew Pitt

Aisling's story

Aisling's story

Aisling, from Northern Ireland, became poorly with Rhombencephalitis in 2018. This is her story Read more

Published: 16th December, 2020

Updated: 17th December, 2020

Author: Andrew Pitt

Alan's Story

Alan's Story

Alan's wife, Celia, fell ill with a rare form of encephalitis called sub-acute sclerosing pan-encephalitis (SSPE). Here he shares their story and his reasons for supporting the Encephalitis Society Read more

Published: 24th August, 2017

Updated: 20th May, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Alex's story

Alex's story

Alex had just started studying music at a university in Nashville when he became poorly with Epstein-Barr viral encephalitis. This is his story. Read more

Published: 3rd February, 2021

Updated: 19th February, 2021

Author: Andrew Pitt

Alison's Story

Alison's Story

Alison was a little girl when she became ill with encephalitis. In this story she tells us what impact encephalitis has had on her growing up. Read more

Published: 7th February, 2018

Updated: 2nd November, 2020

Author: Phillippa Chapman

Aliya's story

Aliya's story

Aliya was a 20-year-old college junior in Massachusetts, USA, when she was diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis in December, 2019. Read more

Published: 6th October, 2020

Updated: 9th October, 2020

Author: Andrew Pitt

Amy's Story

Amy's Story

Amy, from Sydney, Australia, underwent numerous tests before her eventual diagnosis with autoimmune encephalitis. This is her story. Read more

Published: 3rd February, 2021

Updated: 11th February, 2021

Author: Andrew Pitt

Anais' Story

Anais' Story

Anaïs, from Dublin, was 15 when she fell ill with encephalitis and her 'brain rewired'. This is her story. Read more

Published: 30th July, 2018

Updated: 20th May, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Ana's Story

Ana's Story

Ana, from Minnesota, was a happy 10-year-old when she came down with flu-like symptoms. Within days, she couldn't eat, write or wash her hair. She was later diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. Read more

Published: 28th June, 2018

Updated: 20th May, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Andrew's story

Andrew's story

Andrew was affected by rhombencephalitis last year. Sadly, he passed away. His mum, Karen, talks about her son's illness and shares her eulogy to him. Read more

Published: 15th March, 2019

Updated: 20th May, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Annabelle's story

Annabelle's story

Nearly a year ago, Annabelle was affected by encephalitis. Her parents wanted to do something to mark the occasion and represent the fight that Annabelle and others in a similar situation have to go through. Read more

Published: 24th October, 2017

Updated: 20th May, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Annette's Story

Annette's Story

Annette, from East Sussex, had heard of encephalitis but didn't know what it was until she fell ill with meningoencephalitis in 2018. Today, she is still discovering what the side-effects of her illness will be. Read more

Published: 27th September, 2018

Updated: 24th June, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Aoife's Story

Aoife's Story

Aoife, 14, from Dublin was diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis in 2016. Her mum, Louise, tells her story. Read more

Published: 8th January, 2019

Updated: 24th June, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Ayomide's story

Ayomide's story

Ayomide from London was 17 when she fell ill with anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Her mum, Aramide, tells her story. Read more

Published: 15th February, 2019

Updated: 24th June, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Bruno's story

Bruno's story

Bruno fell ill with viral encephalitis when he was 16 years old. He explains the impact it had on him at the time, and today as a 49-year-old father of two. Read more

Published: 20th September, 2018

Updated: 13th August, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Cerys' story

Cerys' story

Kerry talks about her daughter Cerys who was diagnosed with Anti-NMDAR encephalitis just before her 13th birthday Read more

Published: 16th December, 2020

Updated: 4th January, 2021

Author: Andrew Pitt

Charles's Story

Charles's Story

Charles' circumstances dramatically changed when, in November 1981, he contracted viral encephalitis whilst loading a ship in Cardiff. Read more

Published: 30th July, 2018

Updated: 24th June, 2019

Author: olive ferguson

Charlie's Story

Charlie's Story

Charlie became poorly with ADEM in February 2019. His mum, Louise, tells his story. Read more

Published: 3rd February, 2021

Updated: 19th February, 2021

Author: Andrew Pitt

Clair's Story

Clair's Story

WATCH - When Clair woke up in hospital after falling ill with encephalitis, she had no idea that the people by her bedside were her parents. Her dad, Mark, tells her story. Read more

Published: 20th June, 2019

Updated: 24th June, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Corinna's story

Corinna's story

Corinna, a travel writer from Australia, fell ill with Herpes Simplex Virus Encephalitis and talks about her illness and the lessons she has learned as she continues her recovery Read more

Published: 10th July, 2019

Updated: 11th July, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Dave's Story - Part One

Dave's Story - Part One

Dave was affected by autoimmune encephalitis in January 2016. In part one of his story, he writes about falling ill and his treatment. Read more

Published: 31st May, 2018

Updated: 24th June, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Dave's Story - Part Two

Dave's Story - Part Two

Dave, from Midlothian, Scotland, was affected by autoimmune encephalitis in January 2016. In part two of his story, he gives an update on his recovery and progress. Read more

Published: 31st May, 2018

Updated: 24th June, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Elisabeth's story

Elisabeth's story

Elisabeth, from Tours, France, 'discovered hell' when she fell ill with autoimmune encephalitis as a 19-year-old. Read more

Published: 10th April, 2018

Updated: 22nd July, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Erin's Story

Erin's Story

Erin, from New South Wales, Australia, was five when she fell ill with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Her mum, Michelle, tells her story. Read more

Published: 27th March, 2018

Updated: 22nd July, 2019

Author: Andrew Pitt

Frances' story

Frances' story

I am a 24 year-old woman living in Kent who was recently diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis. I was discharged from hospital in April but during my stay, I wrote an account of what I was going through. I hope it is of interest to other sufferers Read more

Published: 27th June, 2018

Updated: 28th June, 2018

Author: Andrew Pitt

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Showing 10 of 75

Latest

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    £2.3m study to investigate neurological effects of COVID-19

    A £2.3 million study will investigate the neurological or neuropsychiatric effects of COVID-19

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Most read

  • NMDAR antibody encephalitis

    NMDAR antibody encephalitis

    NMDAR antibody encephalitis is an autoimmune disease that causes psychiatric features, confusion, memory loss and seizures followed by a movement disorder, loss of consciousness and changes in blood pressure, heart rate and temperature.

  • Herpes Simplex  virus encephalitis

    Herpes Simplex virus encephalitis

    Herpes simplex encephalitis is a type of infectious encephalitis which happens when herpes simplex virus (HSV) enters the brain. Usually, it begins with ‘flu-like’ symptoms followed by neurological deterioration, which may include personality and behavioural changes, seizures, weakness and difficulties in communication.

  • What is encephalitis?

    What is encephalitis?

    Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain caused by an infection or through the immune system attacking the brain in error.

  • West Nile encephalitis

    West Nile encephalitis

    West Nile encephalitis is a type of infectious encephalitis caused by West Nile virus. People usually become infected after being bitten by a mosquito, which has fed on an infected bird.

  • Guidelines for recovery

    Guidelines for recovery

    No two people with encephalitis have the same outcomes. People recover at different paces. Recovery can be helped by having lots of rest, good nutrition, helpful social network and support from professionals.

  • Limbic encephalitis

    Limbic encephalitis

    The term ‘limbic encephalitis’ (LE) describes the condition when limbic areas of the brain are inflamed (swollen) and consequently not functioning properly. Most forms of LE fall into two main categories: infectious encephalitis and autoimmune encephalitis.

  • Japanese encephalitis

    Japanese encephalitis

    Japanese encephalitis is an infectious encephalitis caused by Japanese encephalitis virus transmitted by mosquitoes, called ‘Culex’ mosquitoes.

  • Hashimoto's encephalopathy

    Hashimoto's encephalopathy

    Hashimoto's encephalopathy is a rare condition, which is probably of autoimmune origin. The concept of HE is becoming fragmented into a number of other types of autoimmune encephalitis which appear to have their own autoantibodies, prognosis and associated features.

  • Death from encephalitis

    Death from encephalitis

    Encephalitis is a serious neurological condition and unfortunately, despite improvements in specific and more supportive treatments such as excellent intensive care management, encephalitis still has a high mortality (death) rate.

  • Measles infection and encephalitis

    Measles infection and encephalitis

    Measles causes encephalitis in children with measles infection. Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is a very effective way to prevent against these diseases.

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Encephalitis Society, 32 Castlegate,
Malton, North Yorkshire YO17 7DT
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T: +44(0)1653 692583
E: [email protected] (general enquiries)
E: [email protected] (support enquiries)
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The Encephalitis Society is the operating name of the Encephalitis Support Group which is a registered Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee.

Registered in England and Wales No. 04189027. Registered Office as above. Registered Charity No. 1087843. Registered Charity in Scotland: SC048210

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