Which statement about encephalitis is true?

Which statement about encephalitis is true?

• A. It is a severe brain inflammation
• B. It is caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain
• C. It is a non-inflammatory condition
• D. It affects only the spinal cord

Answer: (A)

Encephalitis means inflammation of the brain tissue, usually due to infection or immune-related processes. That inflammation is what causes swelling and disruption of brain function, leading to symptoms like fever, headache, confusion, seizures, or altered consciousness. Because the defining feature is brain inflammation, the statement that it is a severe brain inflammation is true, especially in serious cases where swelling can cause significant damage. It is not primarily caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain; that describes hypoxic or anoxic injury. It is an inflammatory condition, so describing it as non-inflammatory would be incorrect. It does not affect only the spinal cord; the spinal cord can be involved in other disorders (and if both brain and spinal cord are affected, the term encephalomyelitis may be used), but classic encephalitis centers on the brain.

Encephalitis means inflammation of the brain tissue, usually due to infection or immune-related processes. That inflammation is what causes swelling and disruption of brain function, leading to symptoms like fever, headache, confusion, seizures, or altered consciousness. Because the defining feature is brain inflammation, the statement that it is a severe brain inflammation is true, especially in serious cases where swelling can cause significant damage.

It is not primarily caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain; that describes hypoxic or anoxic injury. It is an inflammatory condition, so describing it as non-inflammatory would be incorrect. It does not affect only the spinal cord; the spinal cord can be involved in other disorders (and if both brain and spinal cord are affected, the term encephalomyelitis may be used), but classic encephalitis centers on the brain.