Endocrine System

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2.14   Mental Illness – Any disease of the mind that affects a person’s thoughts, feelings or behaviour is a mental illness. These illnesses lead to unhappiness and socially unacceptable behaviour. Some mental illnesses may occur from a physical cause, such as a birth defect, a disease, or an injury to the brain. Certain conditions in the environment also affect a person’s mental state. The imbalance of certain brain chemicals may cause mental illnesses. Sometimes it is hereditary.

2.15   Encephalitis – This is an inflammation of the brain. In most cases encephalitis results from a virus infection. Bacteria, harmful chemical, and various tiny parasites can also cause the disease.

2.16   Meningitis – This is a disease that affects the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. People of all ages can become victims of this disease, but it most frequently strikes infants and children. Meningitis results from infection by bacteria, viruses, fungi or other microbes. Physically weak or unhealthy people are more prone to this disease.

 Genetic Disorders

2.17   Our genes (the hereditary materials in cells) carry instructions for the development of the brain. These instructions are extremely complex and so errors occasionally occur. Errors in the instructional material can lead to serious defects, like mental retardness in the structure and functioning of the brain.