Encephalitis needs to be treated urgently. Treatment involves tackling the underlying cause, relieving symptoms and supporting bodily functions.
It's treated in hospital – usually in an intensive care unit (ICU), which is for people who are very ill and need extra care.
How long someone with encephalitis needs to stay in hospital can range from a few days to several weeks or even months.
If a cause of encephalitis is found, treatment will start straight away.
Possible treatments include:
If there's no treatment for the underlying cause, treatment is given to support the body, relieve symptoms, and allow the best chance of recovery.
Encephalitis puts a lot of strain on the body and can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms.
Most people need treatment to relieve these symptoms and to support certain bodily functions until they're feeling better.
This may involve:
Occasionally, surgery to remove a small piece of the skull may be needed if the pressure inside increases and medicine is not helping.