Encephalitis

[Dagargus]

Encephalitis at 6 years old. My dad said I came home bouncing off the walls. Successful career, but feel I have never been connected to my true self. When I have mention the encephalitis to Doctors they shrug their shoulders. Any thoughts?

[STEM_Dad]

Hi and welcome to the forum Dagargus !

I have read that there is a connection between encephalitis and a higher chance of a person developing ADHD. I don't recall if I've chatted with anyone on ADHD forums who has mentioned that they had encephalitis as a child, but I'm not surprised by the connection.

I didn't have encephalitis (as far as I know), but I had multiple bad ear infections by the time I was 4, and there's a connection between that and a higher likelihood of developing ADHD.

Other risk factors include premature birth, I think various other early childhood illnesses or autoimmune conditions.

As far as I know, genetics still seems to be the greatest factor. Two children could both have encephalitis, but then only one of them would develop ADHD because they had genes related to the propensity for developing ADHD.

(Some people can carry the genes and not develop ADHD, but then their kids develop the disorder. My parents have ADHD traits and perhaps my dad has undiagnosed ADHD...but they are both milder that me with the Inattentive traits that define my diagnosis.)

[STEM_Dad in reply to STEM_Dad]

I don't know why a doctor would shrug their shoulders to that, though. It's important piece of patient history information....not just regarding ADHD, but in general, especially for your neurological health.