Encephalitis Treatments

Treatment

Treatment is mostly supportive. It may include:

Antiviral drugs (eg, intravenous acyclovir for herpes simplex encephalitis)—to potentially help shorten the duration of the illness
Steroid medications—to decrease brain swelling
Diuretics such as mannitol—to decrease elevated intracranial pressure
Intubation with hyperventilation—to decrease elevated intracranial pressure
Anticonvulsant medications—to prevent and/or treat seizures

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