How you can help

1. Be part of our new campaign #OneFamily

Raising awareness of encephalitis in children and highlighting how it can devastate families is crucial.

To be part of our #OneFamily campaign, post a photo of your family on your social media account, tag us in and share with the message:

#encephalitis happens in real life too #Hollyoaks #OneFamily #OaksParents

2. Make a donation

The Encephalitis Society saves lives - but we need your help!

Your donations ensure we can carry on our life-saving work, from providing support and information to families affected by encephalitis, helping to fund research into encephalitis and raising awareness of encephalitis.

Make a donation

3. Give Gilley the Giraffe a good home

Gilley is a cuddly giraffe with life-saving properties.

Every Gilley raises awareness of encephalitis and brings comfort to a child affected by encephalitis – that’s special. Buy one for your children or grandchildren, for yourself or simply for someone you love, and every one sold helps fund our vital work.

Buy Gilley the Giraffe

Latest

Safeguarding

The purpose of these policies is to make sure that the actions of any adult in the context of the work carried out by the Society are transparent and safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and adults at risk.
Andrew's story

Andrew was affected by Rhombencephalitis last year. Sadly, he passed away. His mum, Karen, talks about her son's illness and shares her eulogy to him.
EU exit information for patients

Information for patients in a no-deal EU exit
Dr Thomas Pollak

NIHR Clinical Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London

Hollyoaks blog

Our blog will follow Dee Dee's storyline over the coming months and sharing stories and information about encephalitis.
How we help families

We are encephalitis experts and when you come to us for help and support, you are in safe hands. Find out more.
Encephalitis in Children

Encephalitis affects everyone, including many children. Read more about brain inflammation here.
About Dee Dee

It’s been a hard secret to keep, but read more about how we are involved with Hollyoaks...
Gilley the Giraffe

Gilley the Giraffe is the mascot of the Encephalitis Society. Buy one today to support our life-saving work with children like Dee Dee.

Anti-NMDAR encephalitis

Anti-NMDAR encephalitis is an autoimmune disease that causes psychiatric features, confusion, memory loss and seizures followed by a movement disorder, loss of consciousness and changes in blood pressure, heart rate and temperature.
Herpes Simplex virus encephalitis

Herpes simplex encephalitis is a type of infectious encephalitis which happens when herpes simplex virus (HSV) enters the brain. Usually, it begins with ‘flu-like’ symptoms followed by neurological deterioration, which may include personality and behavioural changes, seizures, weakness and difficulties in communication.
What is encephalitis?

Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain caused by an infection or through the immune system attacking the brain in error.
West Nile encephalitis

West Nile encephalitis is a type of infectious encephalitis caused by West Nile virus. People usually become infected after being bitten by a mosquito, which has fed on an infected bird.
Guidelines for recovery

No two people with encephalitis have the same outcomes. People recover at different paces. Recovery can be helped by having lots of rest, good nutrition, helpful social network and support from professionals.
Limbic encephalitis

The term ‘limbic encephalitis’ (LE) describes the condition when limbic areas of the brain are inflamed (swollen) and consequently not functioning properly. Most forms of LE fall into two main categories: infectious encephalitis and autoimmune encephalitis.
Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis is an infectious encephalitis caused by Japanese encephalitis virus transmitted by mosquitoes, called ‘Culex’ mosquitoes.
Hashimoto's encephalopathy

Hashimoto's encephalopathy is a rare condition, which is probably of autoimmune origin. The concept of HE is becoming fragmented into a number of other types of autoimmune encephalitis which appear to have their own autoantibodies, prognosis and associated features.
Death from encephalitis

Encephalitis is a serious neurological condition and unfortunately, despite improvements in specific and more supportive treatments such as excellent intensive care management, encephalitis still has a high mortality (death) rate.
Measles infection and encephalitis

Measles causes encephalitis in children with measles infection. Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is a very effective way to prevent against these diseases.