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Early treatment can prevent permanent damage.

Some infections can cause temporary or persistent ataxia:

• Viral infections (e.g. flu, COVID-19, chickenpox)
   
• Lyme disease
   
• Brain infections (encephalitis, meningitis)
   
• Post-infectious immune reactions
   

What helps:

• Treating the infection
   
• Monitoring recovery
   
• Managing inflammation
   

Many people improve over time. 

Early treatment can prevent permanent damage.

Some infections can cause temporary or persistent ataxia:

• Viral infections (e.g. flu, COVID-19, chickenpox)
   
• Lyme disease
   
• Brain infections (encephalitis, meningitis)
   
• Post-infectious immune reactions
   

What helps:

• Treating the infection
   
• Monitoring recovery
   
• Managing inflammation
   

Many people improve over time.

Some viral infections can cause temporary or longer-lasting ataxia, particularly affecting balance, coordination, and walking.
This can happen during the infection, shortly after recovery, or as part of the body’s immune response.

In many cases, viral-related ataxia improves over time, especially with early recognition and support.

Viruses may affect coordination by:

• Directly affecting the brain or cerebellum
   
• Triggering inflammation in the nervous system
   
• Causing a post-infectious immune reaction
   
• Leading to fever, weakness, or dehydration that worsens balance
   

The cerebellum, which controls coordination, can be particularly sensitive.

Examples include:

• Influenza (flu)
   
• COVID-19
   
• Chickenpox (varicella)
   
• Other viral illnesses affecting the nervous system
   

Ataxia is uncommon, but recognised in some people after these infections.

Viral-related ataxia may cause:

• Sudden unsteady or wide-based walking
   
• Poor balance or frequent falls
   
• Clumsiness of hands or arms
   
• Slurred speech
   
• Tremor or shakiness
   
• Fatigue and weakness
   

Symptoms may appear rapidly compared with other forms of ataxia.

In many cases:

• Symptoms are temporary
   
• Gradual improvement occurs over weeks or months
   
• Children often recover fully
   
• Adults may recover fully or partially, depending on severity
   

Recovery varies between individuals.

Seek medical advice urgently if ataxia:

• Appears suddenly
   
• Worsens quickly
   
• Occurs with fever, confusion, severe headache, or vision changes
   
• Follows a recent viral infection
   

Assessment helps rule out serious complications.

Medical care may include:

• Neurological examination
   
• Blood tests or imaging if needed
   
• Treating the underlying infection
   
• Managing inflammation
   
• Monitoring recovery
   

Supportive therapies may include physiotherapy and fatigue management.

Yes. In viral-related ataxia:

• Symptoms often improve significantly
   
• Progression usually stops
   
• Early treatment reduces the risk of complications
   

Long-term problems are uncommon, but monitoring is important.

Some viral infections — including flu, COVID-19, and chickenpox — can cause temporary ataxia, often through inflammation or immune response.
With early assessment and supportive care, many people recover partially or fully.

Sudden or rapidly worsening ataxia should always be medically assessed.

Lyme disease is a treatable bacterial infection that can affect the nervous system and, in some cases, cause ataxia.
When the brain or nerves are involved (neuroborreliosis), symptoms may include balance problems, coordination difficulties, and unsteady walking.

Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent long-term complications and often lead to significant improvement.

Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia bacteria, transmitted through tick bites.
If untreated, the infection can spread to the nervous system, leading to:

• Inflammation of the brain or nerves
   
• Disrupted nerve signalling
   
• Balance and coordination problems
   

Neurological involvement can occur weeks or months after infection.

In addition to coordination problems, symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
   
• Headaches
   
• Muscle or joint pain
   
• Numbness or tingling
   
• Facial weakness
   
• Memory or concentration difficulties
   

A history of tick exposure or rash may be present, but not always.

Diagnosis may involve:

• Blood tests for Lyme disease antibodies
   
• Neurological assessment
   
• Sometimes spinal fluid tests
   

Diagnosis can be complex and may require specialist input.

Treatment usually involves:

• Antibiotic therapy
   
• Supportive care during recovery
   
• Monitoring of neurological symptoms
   

Most people improve with appropriate treatment.

Yes. With early and effective treatment:

• Ataxia symptoms may improve significantly
   
• Progression usually stops
   
• Full recovery is possible in many cases
   

Delayed treatment increases the risk of persistent symptoms.

Seek medical assessment if:

• Ataxia appears suddenly or worsens
   
• There is a history of tick exposure
   
• Symptoms follow outdoor activities in tick-prone areas
   
• Ataxia is accompanied by fatigue, pain, or neurological symptoms
   

Early treatment improves outcomes.

Lyme disease is a treatable cause of ataxia.
Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment can stop progression, reduce symptoms, and prevent long-term neurological damage.

Lyme disease should be considered when ataxia has no clear explanation, especially with possible tick exposure.

Serious brain infections, such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings), can cause ataxia.
These infections can disrupt areas of the brain responsible for balance, coordination, and movement, sometimes leading to sudden or rapidly worsening symptoms.

Brain infections are medical emergencies and require urgent assessment and treatment.

Encephalitis and meningitis can cause ataxia by:

• Inflaming or damaging the cerebellum
   
• Disrupting nerve signals involved in movement and balance
   
• Increasing pressure in the brain
   
• Triggering immune-related damage
   

Ataxia may appear during the infection or as part of recovery.

In addition to balance and coordination problems, symptoms may include:

• Severe headache
   
• Fever
   
• Confusion or drowsiness
   
• Sensitivity to light
   
• Nausea or vomiting
   
• Seizures
   
• Neck stiffness
   

Ataxia with these symptoms needs urgent medical attention.

Diagnosis may involve:

• Urgent neurological assessment
   
• Brain imaging (CT or MRI)
   
• Blood tests
   
• Lumbar puncture (spinal fluid analysis)
   

Prompt diagnosis is essential to guide treatment.

Treatment depends on the cause and may include:

• Antiviral or antibiotic medications
   
• Steroids to reduce inflammation
   
• Intensive supportive care
   
• Monitoring in hospital
   

Early treatment improves outcomes.

After treatment:

• Ataxia may improve gradually
   
• Some people recover fully
   
• Others may have ongoing coordination difficulties
   
• Rehabilitation therapies support recovery
   

The extent of recovery varies depending on severity and speed of treatment.

Call emergency services if ataxia is accompanied by:

• Fever and severe headache
   
• Sudden confusion or collapse
   
• Seizures
   
• Rapid deterioration
   

Do not delay — early treatment can be life-saving.

Encephalitis and meningitis are serious but treatable causes of ataxia.
Urgent medical care can save life, reduce brain damage, and improve recovery.

Any sudden ataxia with signs of infection requires immediate medical attention.

Sometimes ataxia develops after an infection, even when the infection itself has resolved.
This is known as a post-infectious immune reaction, where the immune system mistakenly attacks parts of the nervous system, including areas responsible for balance and coordination.

Post-infectious ataxia is often temporary and treatable, especially when recognised early.

After fighting an infection, the immune system may:

• Remain overactive
   
• Mistakenly target nerve tissue
   
• Cause inflammation in the cerebellum
   

This immune response — not the infection itself — leads to coordination problems.

Post-infectious ataxia has been reported after:

• Viral infections (e.g. flu, COVID-19, chickenpox)
   
• Some bacterial infections
   
• Childhood infections
   

It is more commonly seen in children, but can also affect adults.

Symptoms may include:

• Sudden unsteady walking
   
• Poor balance
   
• Clumsiness of arms or hands
   
• Slurred speech
   
• Tremor or shakiness
   
• Fatigue
   

Symptoms often appear days to weeks after the infection.

In many cases:

• Symptoms do not continue to worsen
   
• Gradual improvement occurs over weeks or months
   
• Children often recover fully
   
• Adults may recover fully or partially
   

Recovery varies depending on severity and immune response.

Assessment may involve:

• Neurological examination
   
• Blood tests to rule out ongoing infection
   
• Brain imaging if needed
   
• Monitoring symptom progression
   

Diagnosis is often made after excluding other causes.

Treatment may include:

• Supportive care and rest
   
• Physiotherapy for balance and coordination
   
• Medications to reduce inflammation in some cases
   
• Monitoring recovery
   

Most people improve with supportive treatment.

Seek medical advice if:

• Ataxia appears suddenly after an infection
   
• Symptoms worsen or fail to improve
   
• There are additional symptoms such as confusion, severe headache, or weakness
   

Early assessment helps ensure safe recovery.

Post-infectious immune reactions are a recognised and often reversible cause of ataxia.
With early assessment and supportive care, many people recover partially or fully.

Sudden coordination problems after infection should always be medically assessed.