Treatment

Treatment of patients with encephalitis has two objectives.

1. To ensure the patient receives specific treatment for the cause of their encephalitis. It is important that these drugs are started promptly and often before a definite cause is found. Therefore patients are frequently given several different drugs at once.
   
   Where the encephalitis is thought to be caused by viral infection, patients are treated with anti-viral drugs. Acyclovir is the most frequently used anti-viral drug. It is effective against herpes simplex and varicella zoster viruses and is given at high dose into a vein. Unfortunately there are no specific treatments at present for many other viral causes of encephalitis. Treatment for mild cases mainly consists of rest and a healthy diet, including plenty of liquids, to let the immune system fight the virus.
   
   For bacterial causes of encephalitis there is a range of specific treatment available. Patients are usually started on a type of antibiotic which treats a broad spectrum of different bacterial causes, and then given more specific types of antibiotic if the specific bacteria causing the illness can be found and identified.
   
   As autoimmune and post-infectious encephalitis is due to the immune system attacking the brain, treatment involves suppressing the immune system, and may include steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), and plasma exchange.
   
   
2. To manage the complications arising from the encephalitis and to support the individual whilst they are not able to perform usual bodily functions.
   
   Often this treatment coupled with close observation necessitates the patient being on an intensive care or high dependency unit. Interventions vary from controlling seizures, sedation, supplying fluids, treating hospital-acquired infections, to ventilation.
   

Last modified: 18 March 2008