Johns Hopkins | Neurology & Neurosurgery

Therapeutic Approaches

About Acute Encephalitis
Acute encephalitis is an inflammatory condition of the central nervous system. It is a complex and severe disease. Acute encephalitis can be caused by a wide variety of conditions, including:

Bacterial or viral infection in the brain

Ingestion of toxic substances

Complication of an infectious disease

Complication of an underlying malignancy

Symptoms of acute encephalitis can vary, depending on which part of the brain that is most affected. A few symptoms that may be common in patients with acute encephalitis include (but are not limited to):

Fever

Headache

Sensitivity to light or sound

Confusion

Poor memory/memory loss

Disorientation

Irritability

Anxiety

Seizures

Weakness or numbness of arm or leg>
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Diagnostic Process
Depending on the patient’s medical history and symptoms, the diagnostic process for acute encephalitis may vary. Several technologies or methods may be utilized, such as a blood draw, lumbar puncture, EEG, or brain imaging.

At the Johns Hopkins Encephalitis Center, a primary focus is on the diagnostic process that helps us identify the causes of patients’ illnesses. This research includes developing new technologies and diagnostic processes.

Improvements in these diagnostic methods will aid in a clinician’s ability to reach a diagnosis quickly and produce more effective and specific treatment options for patients.
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Therapeutic Approches
Acute encephalitis is often difficult to treat due to the complex nature of the disease. Depending on the cause of the condition, we may recommend a variety of options to reduce inflammation or treat the infection. Sometimes, the best course of action is to closely monitor the patient, while in other instances, medical therapy, including antiviral medication or steroids, can help to control the progression of disease.

At the Johns Hopkins Encephalitis Center, we are dedicated to improving therapeutic approaches for acute encephalitis through advanced clinical trials. For optimal patient outcomes, we provide state-of-the-art capabilities for advanced supportive care, including:

Aggressive seizure monitoring program
Anti-seizure treatments
Respiratory and nutritional support

The Johns Hopkins Encephalitis Center team is developing experimental neuroprotective strategies that can be applied to all acute encephalitis cases regardless of the cause. Whether a patient is suffering from an infection or immune mediated encephalitis we are exploring strategies that can be implemented early to help limit damage. Finally, we plan to identify new therapeutic strategies for specific causes of encephalitis.
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