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Meningitis and Encephalitis
A guide for patients and carers
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Treatment of encaphalitis
General care
People with encephalitis need careful attention and quiet, calm surroundings.
• Headaches can be treated with painkillers
• Tepid sponging, electric fans and suitable drugs can be used to reduce high temperature
• Special methods of feeding (e.g. by a tube through the nose or into the
stomach) are used if the person lapses into a coma.
If the person has an epileptic fit
If you are present when someone has a fit, move any dangerous objects away from them and place a soft object such as a cushion or rolled-up jumper under their head. If possible, once the shaking has stopped, protect the head and then turn the person’s body to one side. Trained first-aiders should use the recovery position.
Do not attempt to restrict the person’s movement during the fit.
Do not try to put your finger in their mouth or remove any false teeth. Just wait until the fit has stopped. If the fit has not stopped after five minutes, call an ambulance. If you suffer from epilepsy, it is important that someone close to you knows what to do.
Treatment and medication (drugs)
Acyclovir (Zovirax) is an anti-viral drug used against the herpes simplex virus. It is given by injection into a vein (intravenously) in suspected cases of HSE. The treatment has few side effects and is usually started immediately there is any suspicion of HSE. Given early in the illness, treatment with Acyclovir reduces the risk of long term disability caused by HSE.
Anticonvulsants (drugs to stop or prevent fits)
A calming drug (sedative) will be given by injection into a vein or via the back passage (rectum) to try and stop prolonged fits. Once in hospital the doctor may give further intravenous anticonvulsants. Treatment to prevent fits may have to be taken lifelong if epilepsy continues after the encephalitis or abscess has been treated.
Brain swelling Care in an intensive care unit may be needed to measure and treat raised pressure in the head and to treat breathing difficulties by artificial ventilation. Powerful diuretics (e.g. Mannitol) may be needed to reduce the pressure inside the head.
People with encephalitis need careful attention and quiet, calm surroundings.
• Headaches can be treated with painkillers
• Tepid sponging, electric fans and suitable drugs can be used to reduce high temperature
• Special methods of feeding (e.g. by a tube through the nose or into the
stomach) are used if the person lapses into a coma.
If the person has an epileptic fit
If you are present when someone has a fit, move any dangerous objects away from them and place a soft object such as a cushion or rolled-up jumper under their head. If possible, once the shaking has stopped, protect the head and then turn the person’s body to one side. Trained first-aiders should use the recovery position.
Do not attempt to restrict the person’s movement during the fit.
Do not try to put your finger in their mouth or remove any false teeth. Just wait until the fit has stopped. If the fit has not stopped after five minutes, call an ambulance. If you suffer from epilepsy, it is important that someone close to you knows what to do.
Treatment and medication (drugs)
Acyclovir (Zovirax) is an anti-viral drug used against the herpes simplex virus. It is given by injection into a vein (intravenously) in suspected cases of HSE. The treatment has few side effects and is usually started immediately there is any suspicion of HSE. Given early in the illness, treatment with Acyclovir reduces the risk of long term disability caused by HSE.
Anticonvulsants (drugs to stop or prevent fits)
A calming drug (sedative) will be given by injection into a vein or via the back passage (rectum) to try and stop prolonged fits. Once in hospital the doctor may give further intravenous anticonvulsants. Treatment to prevent fits may have to be taken lifelong if epilepsy continues after the encephalitis or abscess has been treated.
Brain swelling Care in an intensive care unit may be needed to measure and treat raised pressure in the head and to treat breathing difficulties by artificial ventilation. Powerful diuretics (e.g. Mannitol) may be needed to reduce the pressure inside the head.
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Page 8 of 16
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
- Your feedback on Meningitis and Encephalitis
