Treating encephalitis in primary care settings

Encephalitis is inflammation of the parenchyma (the substance) of the brain and is a complex syndrome with many possible causes.¹ The brain can be damaged in two ways – by the cause (for example the infection) and also by the resultant inflammation (or swelling). Encephalitis occurs at any age, to any gender or ethnicity and in any part of the world. There are two primary causes of encephalitis: infections and auto-immune malfunction (post-infectious and other non-post-infectious causes). In some cases where patients are immune-compromised or where the cause cannot be identified, encephalitis can present in a slow and chronic form that may ultimately lead to death.