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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffMosquitoes don't discriminate, so anyone can develop viral encephalitis. But some factors put you at greater risk:
- Age. Some types of encephalitis are more prevalent or more severe in young children or older adults.
- Weakened immune system. If you have an immune deficiency — for example, because of AIDS or HIV — or you're going through cancer therapies or organ transplantation, you're more susceptible to encephalitis.
- Geographic regions. Visiting or living in areas of the country where mosquito-borne viruses are common increases your risk of epidemic encephalitis.
- Outdoor activities. If you have an outdoor job or open-air hobby, such as gardening, jogging, golf or bird-watching, be extra careful during an encephalitis outbreak.
- Season of the year. The warm months of summer are the prime mating time for birds and mosquitoes. As a result, mosquito-borne diseases tend to be more prevalent in late summer to early fall in many areas of the United States. In warmer areas of the U.S., however, mosquitoes may be present year-round.
References
- Encephalitis and meningitis fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/encephalitis_meningitis/detail_encephalitis_meningitis.htm. Accessed March 21, 2009.
- Tyler KL. West Nile virus infection in the United States. Archives of Neurology. 2004;61:1190.
- Johnson RP. Viral encephalitis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 12, 2009.
- Willoughbly RE Jr, et al. Encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, and acute necrotizing encephalopathy. In: Long SS, et al. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/127224884-3/819357724/1679/50.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06687-0..50049-7--cesec19_1078. Accessed March 21, 2009.
- Eastern equine encephalitis fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/arbor/eeefact.htm. Accessed March 21, 2009.
- St. Louis encephalitis fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/sle/Sle_FactSheet.html. Accessed March 21, 2009.
- LaCrosse encephalitis. Directors of Health Promotion and Education. http://www.dhpe.org/lacenceph.asp. Accessed March 21, 2009.
- Peters CJ. Infections caused by arthropod- and rodent-borne viruses. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2895916. Accessed March 21, 2009.
- Encephalitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec16/ch217/ch217c.html. Accessed March 21, 2009.
- Voelker R. Effects of West Nile virus may persist. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2008;299:2135.
- Insect repellant use and safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/insect_repellent.htm. Accessed March 22, 2009.
- Follow safety precautions when using DEET on children. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/family/wnv-jun03.htm. Accessed March 22, 2009.
