What seemed like a cold at first turned into sudden personality changes within days, with a man even unable to operate his own phone. Taitung Mackay Memorial Hospital said the case highlights sudden behavioral changes and loss of everyday abilities as warning signs of meningoencephalitis.

The patient initially appeared to have a cold but soon developed major personality and cognitive changes, making frequent mistakes at work and becoming unusually irritable. His family even suspected a mental disorder or possession, but neurological tests showed that the problem involved brain function.

Further tests found inflammation in both the meninges and brain tissue, leading to a diagnosis of non-infectious encephalitis. After high-dose steroids, plasma exchange and anti-seizure medication, his condition improved. He was discharged after about 3 months and returned to work following several months of recovery.

A neurologist at Taitung Mackay Memorial Hospital explained that meningoencephalitis differs from ordinary meningitis because it also affects brain tissue and can cause confusion, seizures and limb weakness. Early symptoms may still be fever and headache, while behavioral changes can be mistaken for psychiatric problems, delaying diagnosis.

If initial tests cannot explain the symptoms or standard treatment shows no improvement after more than a week, doctors may arrange magnetic resonance imaging, lumbar puncture and electroencephalography to determine the cause. Anyone with fever and headache accompanied by neck stiffness, altered consciousness, seizures or marked behavioral changes should seek medical care early.