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  • hollyoaks
  1. Raising awareness
  2. Our campaigns
  3. Hollyoaks

Hollyoaks

We are proud to have been working with Channel 4 and the team behind Hollyoaks for the past eight months, on a storyline involving four-year-old Dee Dee Hutchinson who has been affected by encephalitis.

The Hollyoaks team approached us last year to see if we would be interested in collaborating with them to make sure the storyline was as accurate as possible.

We were impressed by their eagerness to show the realities behind encephalitis and jumped at the chance to share our expertise.

Dr Ava Easton, our Chief Executive, and Dr Benedict Michael, a member of our Scientific Advisory Panel and Trustee, visited the set and met with the research team early on in the process and have continued to collaborate with them ever since.

Hollyoaks set visit

Dr Ava Easton and Dr Benedict Michael visit the Hollyoaks set

Naturally, they asked us to keep our involvement secret until the storyline progressed but now we are proud to announce our involvement and hope that you will watch Hollyoaks next week to see more. 

In the coming months, we will be updating you on Dee Dee's progress as well as launching our #OneFamily campaign which aims to raise awareness of encephalitis in children and highlight how we deliver our life-saving support to families touched by encephalitis. 

We hope you will support us and other children who like Dee Dee have had their lives affected by this devastating condition.

Find out more about our involvement, our campaign and our work below. 

About Dee Dee

About Dee Dee

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

Published: 1st May, 2018

Updated: 2nd May, 2018

Author: Andrew Pitt

Encephalitis in Children

Encephalitis in Children

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

Published: 1st May, 2018

Updated: 12th February, 2020

Author: Andrew Pitt

Gilley the Giraffe

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. Read more

Published: 1st May, 2018

Updated: 8th May, 2018

Author: Andrew Pitt

Hollyoaks blog

Hollyoaks blog

Our blog will follow Dee Dee's storyline over the coming months and sharing stories and information about encephalitis. Read more

Published: 9th May, 2018

Updated: 20th September, 2018

Author: Andrew Pitt

How we help families

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. Read more

Published: 1st May, 2018

Updated: 2nd May, 2018

Author: Andrew Pitt

How you can help

How you can help

Together, we can help more children like Dee Dee. Find out how. Read more

Published: 1st May, 2018

Updated: 27th July, 2018

Author: Andrew Pitt

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Showing 10 of 6

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    Take on the #5kMay

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  • NMDAR antibody encephalitis

    NMDAR antibody encephalitis

    NMDAR antibody 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 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?

    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

    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

    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

    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

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

  • Hashimoto's encephalopathy

    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

    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 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.

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Encephalitis Society, 32 Castlegate,
Malton, North Yorkshire YO17 7DT
United Kingdom
T: +44(0)1653 692583
E: [email protected] (general enquiries)
E: [email protected] (support enquiries)
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The Encephalitis Society is the operating name of the Encephalitis Support Group which is a registered Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee.

Registered in England and Wales No. 04189027. Registered Office as above. Registered Charity No. 1087843. Registered Charity in Scotland: SC048210

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