Brain On Fire: Nicole's Battle With Autoimmune Encephalitis

Autoimmune encephalitis can be described as your boddy attacking your brain. It's also the feeling like your brain is on fire. The illness was highlighted in the move Brain On Fire in which Susannah Cahalan, an up-and-coming journalist at the New York Post becomes plagued by voices in her head and seizures due to the condition. People with autoimmune encephalitis (AE) are often misdiagnosed as suffering from a psychiatric illness, delirium or dementia. Nicole's parents became concerned when the child began showing signs of withdrawing and erratic behavior and eventually catatonic. The pediatric neurology team at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, led by Dr.Tatyana Dubrovsky, MD and Christina Zafiris, PHD, was able to quickly diagnose her with autoimmune encephalitis and applied the appropriate treatment before any permanent brain damage. Today, Nicole is fully recovered and on her way to continue her young and happy life. To learn more about Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital's Pediatric Neurology services visit: https://www.jdch.com/services/neurology