It is a day that has special meaning to me and many others touched by encephalitis and more specifically autoimmune encephalitis in my case. 7 years ago, I didn't know what Autoimmune Encephalitis was until I “woke up” in the Penn Medicine Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania after being misdiagnosed by two different doctors at two different hospitals and almost being committed to the nursing home to “live out the rest of my life comfortably.” i love @pennmedicine . Encephalitis is an illness that involves the inflammation of the brain from either an infection or the immune system mistakenly attacking the brain. In my case, I have Autoimmune Encephalitis which is a rare illness that causes the immune system to think something is invading your body (which it should do) but it develops a "glitch" and it thinks the brain is the culprit. So, it starts attacking the brain. Symptoms are similar to symptoms of other neurological illnesses such as dementia, Alzheimer's, and schizophrenia. Among these symptoms are confusion, altered behavior, psychosis, hallucinations, sleep disturbance, cognitive issues, memory loss, seizures, and physical disorders. Hundreds of thousands of people globally each year are affected by autoimmune encephalitis, and encephalitis, and are misdiagnosed, but a correct and quick diagnosis can make all the difference between life and death. As such, education and raising awareness of this illness is extremely important and severely required as many people are wrongly diagnosed till the illness has done damage that can't be repaired or worse in some situations. As such, education and raising awareness of this illness is extremely important and severely required as many people are wrongly diagnosed till the illness has done damage that can't be repaired or worse in some situations. Two great organizations that are making real progress in raising awareness, research, and helping those with encephalitis & autoimmune encephalitis are: In USA: AE Alliance 

https://aealliance.org @aealliance

In UK:  Encephalitis Society 

World Encephalitis Day is a globally recognized awareness event held on February 22nd to educate people about encephalitis which is a rare but serious inflammation of the brain. The day seeks to promote early detection, treatment, and support for those impacted by this condition, which can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and autoimmune disorders.

Symptoms of encephalitis include fever, headache, confusion, seizures, and in severe cases, coma. While some individuals may recover fully, others may suffer long-term neurological problems or even death.

By participating in World Encephalitis Day, individuals, healthcare professionals, and organizations can unite to learn more about this condition and support those affected by it. Through increased awareness, research, and advocacy, we can work towards improving outcomes for individuals impacted by encephalitis.

World Encephalitis Day is a globally recognized awareness event held on February 22nd to educate people about encephalitis which is a rare but serious inflammation of the brain. The day seeks to promote early detection, treatment, and support for those impacted by this condition, which can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and autoimmune disorders.

Symptoms of encephalitis include fever, headache, confusion, seizures, and in severe cases, coma. While some individuals may recover fully, others may suffer long-term neurological problems or even death.

By participating in World Encephalitis Day, individuals, healthcare professionals, and organizations can unite to learn more about this condition and support those affected by it. Through increased awareness, research, and advocacy, we can work towards improving outcomes for individuals impacted by encephalitis.