Which set of symptoms best describes encephalitis?

• A. Fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck and back, drowsiness, restlessness, convulsions, coma
• B. Joint pain and swelling only
• C. Numbness in the fingers with minimal other symptoms
• D. Hearing loss with no fever

Answer: (A)

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain tissue, usually due to infection, and it affects the brain’s function, often causing fever plus neurological symptoms. The set that includes fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck and back, drowsiness, restlessness, convulsions, and coma shows both systemic illness (fever) and clear brain involvement (altered mental status, seizures, and potential coma). That combination is characteristic of encephalitis, reflecting inflammation of the brain with resulting neurological signs.

The other sets describe issues that don’t involve the brain in the same way: joint pain and swelling points to a joint problem, numbness in the fingers with minimal other symptoms suggests peripheral nerve or circulation issues, and hearing loss without fever doesn’t indicate brain inflammation.