brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Encephalitis
Treatment of Encephalitis
Depending on the possible cause, an antiviral drug, an antibiotic, corticosteroids, and/or other drugs Measures to relieve symptoms and, if needed, provide life support If herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus cannot be excluded, the antiviral drugacycloviris given.Acycloviris effective against herpes simplex and herpes zoster viruses. Cytomegalovirus encephalitis can be treated with the antiviral drugganciclovir.Foscarnetis an alternative, which can be used alone or withganciclovir. Sometimes several antibiotics are also given in case the cause is bacteria. For HIV-associated encephalopathy, a combination of drugs used to treat HIV infection ( Antiretroviral Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection ) helps the immune system function better and delays the progression of the infection and its complications, including dementia. Autoimmune encephalitis is usually treated with the following: Corticosteroids (prednisoneormethylprednisolone) Plasma exchange , which removes the abnormal antibodies from the blood, or immune globulin (antibodies obtained from the blood of people with a normal immune system), which is given intravenously For other viruses and most other causes, no specific treatment is available. Treatment usually involves relieving symptoms (such as seizures and fever) and, when necessary, providing life support (for example, with a breathing tube) until the infection subsides—in about 1 to 2 weeks. 