Encephalitis

  This is a follow-up question about a question I posted on 10/18/98 about
  my mother's condition which the doctor's think is encephalitis.  Can you give
  me any information about the disease regarding damage that may be done?
  Thanks,
  Renee G.
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The damage in encephalitis depends purely on which part of the brain is
involved the functions in that part of the brain will be lost or severely
compromised. I do not think you stated the part of the brain involved but
the temporal lobes are the most common site.
The temporal lobes have a very important role in processing short term memory so the
ability to from new memories may be severely compromised on a long term basis.
Depending on the side involved speech and language may be affected.
The posterior part of the temporal lobes on the left side is an important
speech area in right handed people so the ability to speak and to understand speech and the ability
to read and write may be affected, if this is where the encephalitis was.
Extension above the temporal lobes to the frontal lobes can cause weaknes on the
apposite side of the body and any focus of encephalitis can cause seizures either acutely or
weeks to  months later.