Healthdirect Australia is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering.
Encephalopathy
5-minute read
Key facts
- Encephalopathy is the term for symptoms that happen when your brain is not working normally.
- There are many different causes of encephalopathy, for example, illness, injury, or toxins (poisonous substances).
- Treatment for encephalopathy depends on the cause and may focus on symptoms or the underlying condition.
What is encephalopathy?
Encephalopathy is the term for symptoms that happen when your brain is not working properly.
What are the symptoms of encephalopathy?
The symptoms of encephalopathy vary between people.
The most common symptom of encephalopathy is a change in mental state, with problems such as:
- loss of memory
- difficulty concentrating
- drowsiness
- changes in personality
- confusion
Some people might have:
- jerky eye movements
- poor balance
- difficulty coordinating muscle movements
- muscle twitching or tremors
- seizures
- dementia
Some people may also become unconscious.
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
What causes encephalopathy?
Encephalopathy can be caused by many conditions, for example:
- infections
- some medicines
- diabetic ketoacidosis
- kidney failure
- cancer
- autoimmune conditions
- poisoning
Regardless of the cause, sedative medicines, such as sleeping tablets, can make the symptoms worse.
Types of encephalopathy
There are many types of encephalopathy — here are some examples:
- Hepatic encephalopathy occurs when the liver doesn't work properly and can't remove toxic (poisonous) substances from the blood. This causes ammonia to build up, which affects brain function.
- Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is caused by repeated head knocks or concussions. It is often linked with contact sports, such as boxing and football, but can also result from non-sporting injuries.
- Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy happens when a baby's brain does not get enough oxygen around the time of birth, leading to abnormal brain function.
- Wernicke encephalopathy results from a severe deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) and can lead to permanent brain damage. It happens more often in people with severe alcohol addiction.
Because encephalopathy is a broad term with many causes, it's important to speak to your doctor about what it means in your situation.
When should I see my doctor?
If you notice any new problems that might be symptoms of encephalopathy, see your doctor. This is especially important if you have an underlying problem, such as liver disease, because encephalopathy can become an emergency.
When should I seek urgent care?
Go straight to your nearest hospital emergency department, or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance, if someone you are with has:
- severe confusion
- uncontrolled seizures or uncontrolled movements
- loss of consciousness
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
How is encephalopathy diagnosed?
Encephalopathy is diagnosed based on your symptoms.
To work out if you have encephalopathy, and what might be causing it, your doctor might:
- ask about your symptoms
- talk to your friends or family about any recent behaviour changes
- examine you
- refer you for blood tests
- recommend a lumbar puncture to check the fluid around your brain
- refer you for imaging, such as a CT or MRI scan
How is encephalopathy treated?
People with sudden encephalopathy usually need hospital treatment, which may include:
- addressing the causes — for example, thiamine supplements are helpful for people with Wernicke encephalopathy
- treating the symptoms — for example, anticonvulsants may help manage seizures
Encephalopathy sometimes needs ongoing treatment, more commonly for people with existing health problems. People with conditions such as liver disease are also more likely to have repeated episodes of encephalopathy.
What are the complications of encephalopathy?
If not treated early or properly, encephalopathy can lead to serious complications, including:
- permanent brain damage
- chronic memory problems or personality changes
- increased risk of falls or injuries
- long-term disability or loss of independence
- persistent seizures or epilepsy
- coma or death, especially in severe or untreated cases
Some types of encephalopathy can get worse over time and cause permanent damage that can't be reversed. These include chronic traumatic encephalopathy and Wernicke encephalopathy.
Can encephalopathy be prevented?
Sometimes, you can prevent encephalopathy, especially if you treat what's causing it early. Ways to help prevent encephalopathy include:
- taking care of long term health conditions like liver or kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension)
- not drinking too much alcohol
- eat healthy food and make sure you get enough vitamin B1 (thiamine)
- wearing protective gear in contact sports to reduce the risk of head injury
- staying away from harmful chemicals or poisons
- taking medications as your doctor tells you and avoiding sedatives unless recommended by your doctor
Finding and treating health problems that might cause encephalopathy early is important to help stop it from happening.
Resources and support
The Liver Foundation has information about hepatic encephalopathy.
For information about chronic traumatic encephalopathy visit:
The Queensland Government has information on hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy.
Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 at any time to speak to a registered nurse (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) for more information and advice.
The Gastroenterological Society of Australia has a factsheet on advanced liver disease (a common cause of encephalopathy) translated into several community languages.