Neurological viral diseases refer to medical complications affecting your nervous system (including the spinal cord and brain). The viruses may cause various neurological symptoms, from mild to severe. Some common neurological viral diseases include:
Most of the rural areas of South Africa are at a higher risk of Neurological Viral Diseases. People develop various symptoms depending on the type of viral neurological disorder. The most common signs associated with neurological viral diseases are:
These symptoms can range from mild to severe and may develop gradually or suddenly depending on the virus and the individual.
Viruses are the major cause of Neurological viral disease. They infect the nervous system, causing inflammation and damaging the nervous tissue. Below are some viruses that lead to a range of neurological symptoms.
These risk factors may make you susceptible to Neurological viral diseases.
Diagnosing neurological viral diseases can be challenging because the symptoms can be similar to other neurological conditions. Your doctor will typically perform a physical exam and take a detailed medical history, including recent travel or exposure to infected animals or people.
They may also conduct tests to help diagnose the underlying cause of your symptoms, such as blood tests, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, brain imaging (such as CT or MRI scans), and electroencephalography (EEG) to look for abnormal brain activity.
Diagnosing neurological viral diseases timely is crucial as they may contribute to complications like brain damage, post-infectious syndromes, and various neurological deficits.
Like symptoms, treatment for neurological viral diseases can vary depending on the severity of the infection. Treatment may include antiviral medications, supportive care, and management of symptoms such as seizures or paralysis.
Practising good hygiene, such as washing your hands frequently and avoiding close contact with people who are sick, can also reduce the spread of many viruses.