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Meningitis and Encephalitis
A guide for patients and carers
Other help available to patients and carers
Memory and behaviour
Memory and behaviour can be affected after HSE or bacterial meningitis and may improve only slowly. A clinical psychologist may be able to help with practical advice and support about how to deal with memory and emotional problems, and can also perform examinations to assess how severe the problem is and to monitor how it improves with therapy.
Physical disability
Rehabilitation may be necessary and there may be various specialists involved. A physiotherapist can be helpful if there are problems with arm and leg weakness. They will advise on specific exercises to improve strength and coordination. An occupational therapist will visit in hospital and perhaps also at home to advise on any aids that may improve independence during rehabilitation.
Language difficulties
A speech therapist will advise on how best to communicate if swallowing or speech are affected and a dietician may advise on a special diet to make swallowing easier.
Financial or work-related problems
In some cases of bacterial meningitis and HSE where recovery may be slow, there may be worries about work or financial issues. A social worker may be able to advise about what benefits are available e.g. Disability Living Allowance,Attendance Allowance, Mobility Allowance etc.
Low mood
It is not uncommon to feel tired and listless after encephalitis or meningitis, and sometimes this can develop into depression. This may be as a direct effect of the infection or it may be related to the natural feeling of loss of normal health. If these feelings continue and interfere with a person’s ability to get the most out of rehabilitation, advice from a psychiatrist or psychologist can be helpful. They will discuss these feelings and decide whether any treatment is needed.
Support
Sometimes during recovery people feel it is helpful to hear how other people in a similar situation have dealt with problems. Shared experiences can be supportive, and there are organisations that can provide support and information to patients and carers. A list of useful contacts is given at the end of this booklet.
Memory and behaviour can be affected after HSE or bacterial meningitis and may improve only slowly. A clinical psychologist may be able to help with practical advice and support about how to deal with memory and emotional problems, and can also perform examinations to assess how severe the problem is and to monitor how it improves with therapy.
Physical disability
Rehabilitation may be necessary and there may be various specialists involved. A physiotherapist can be helpful if there are problems with arm and leg weakness. They will advise on specific exercises to improve strength and coordination. An occupational therapist will visit in hospital and perhaps also at home to advise on any aids that may improve independence during rehabilitation.
Language difficulties
A speech therapist will advise on how best to communicate if swallowing or speech are affected and a dietician may advise on a special diet to make swallowing easier.
Financial or work-related problems
In some cases of bacterial meningitis and HSE where recovery may be slow, there may be worries about work or financial issues. A social worker may be able to advise about what benefits are available e.g. Disability Living Allowance,Attendance Allowance, Mobility Allowance etc.
Low mood
It is not uncommon to feel tired and listless after encephalitis or meningitis, and sometimes this can develop into depression. This may be as a direct effect of the infection or it may be related to the natural feeling of loss of normal health. If these feelings continue and interfere with a person’s ability to get the most out of rehabilitation, advice from a psychiatrist or psychologist can be helpful. They will discuss these feelings and decide whether any treatment is needed.
Support
Sometimes during recovery people feel it is helpful to hear how other people in a similar situation have dealt with problems. Shared experiences can be supportive, and there are organisations that can provide support and information to patients and carers. A list of useful contacts is given at the end of this booklet.
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Contents
- Introduction
- What is meningitis?
- What is encephalitis?
- What are the symptoms?
- Tests used to diagnose meningitis and encaphilitis
- Other problems that can be confused with meningitis and encaphilitis
- Treatment of meningitis
- Treatment of encaphalitis
- How well do people respond to treatment?
- Other help available to patients and carers
- Getting back to normal
- Things to be avoided
- Some do's and don'ts
- Summary
- Other Organisations that may be able to help
