This was caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), also known as the cold sore virus, estimated to affect 3.8 billion people under 50 globally<\/a>, or 67% of the world’s population.<\/p>\n It has had a devastating effect on Helen, from Penrhyn-coch near Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, who went from enjoying sea swims and daily dog walks to “struggling to make new memories”, according to daughter Jane Richards.<\/p>\n “When she returned to her home, she no longer recognised it and could not navigate familiar spaces, even forgetting routes between rooms,” said Jane.<\/p>\n Encephalitis affects an estimated three people every minute worldwide, yet campaigners warn that awareness remains dangerously low, with 77% of people not knowing what it is<\/a>.<\/p>\n Before falling ill, Helen says her mother was “really lively and fit” [Jane Richards]<\/p>\n What is encephalitis?<\/p>\n Anyone at any age can get encephalitis, with up to 6,000 cases in the UK each year and potentially hundreds of thousands worldwide, according to Encephalitis International<\/a>.<\/p>\n It happens when an infection invades the brain, with symptoms including a high temperature, fever, confusion, headaches or seizures.<\/p>\n However, it is often hard to diagnose it from these alone, and often takes a brain scan or other procedures.<\/p>\n It can be caused by a number of viruses – including HSV-1, also known as the cold sore virus<\/a>.<\/p>\n This is primarily transmitted through close, direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person, such as kissing or sharing items contaminated with saliva, like lip balm or cutlery, according to the World Health Organization<\/a>.<\/p>\n It is a lifelong condition with no cure, and many people contract it in childhood through close contact with loved ones.<\/p>\n While it can cause painful blisters or ulcers that recur over time, it can lay dormant with most people having no symptoms – and Helen never had a cold sore herself.<\/p>\n Helen’s family want to encourage other families to be on the lookout for the symptoms of encephalitis [Jane Richards]<\/p>\n Describing her mother as “really lively and fit”, Jane said she would exercise daily, help run the family transport business and her own animal feed venture.<\/p>\n But then on 5 September last year, Helen started feeling unwell, experiencing a fever, aches, fatigue and nausea.<\/p>\n A GP suspected a urine infection, but within days she became confused and “behaved really strangely”, according to Jane, 40.<\/p>\n Helen was then admitted to A&E at Ysbyty Bronglais in Aberystwyth where her condition rapidly worsened, with severe confusion, loss of coordination, and increasing drowsiness.<\/p>\n Despite antibiotics, she showed no improvement, with Jane saying she would “have to explain every little step of anything to her”.<\/p>\n A CT scan later revealed brain inflammation, and on 12 September she was diagnosed with viral encephalitis.<\/p>\n Jane has seen her mother go from being fit and active to needing the support of her family [BBC]<\/p>\n In total Helen spent 12 weeks in hospital, and because of the brain damage she suffered, her recovery has been slow.<\/p>\n She has had intensive physiotherapy and occupational therapy sessions, but has struggled – especially since returning home.<\/p>\n Jane added her mother did not even recognise some of the rooms, adding life had “changed quite dramatically”.<\/p>\n Along with her siblings, she now takes it in turns to look after Helen including preparing meals, doing shopping for her and looking after her.<\/p>\n “That was sort of a big change from her looking after the grandchildren – she used to take my son to school three mornings a week before,” Jane said.<\/p>\n “Once she had carers coming in three times a day that came in for like half an hour, but she actually needed more support than that.”<\/p>\n Helen is currently at Swansea’s Morriston Hospital after developing autoimmune encephalitis<\/a>, a complication that can follow the viral form.<\/p>\n “In my mother’s case, she now has an acquired brain injury which means that part of her brain is not working,” Jane added.<\/p>\n “Now it’s a big impact because obviously we’re working and we’re travelling to Morriston to visit her as much as possible.<\/p>\n “We don’t know what the long-term impact is going to be.”<\/p>\n ‘Time is of the essence’<\/p>\n![\"Helen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6c63e165159978c01c0856f7a308904f.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Helen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/dade9dee71b05f270fbd12427e71ebda.jpeg\"\/)
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