Encephalitis is an inflammatory process of the central nervous system in which the major area is the brain parenchyma. If spinal, sensory, and motor roots are also involved, the term radiculitis is used. They are in 25% of cases a precise etiology can be identified. Most cases, in fact, are viral in origin. Other causes may be allergies or absorption of toxic substances.
Some children may seem only modestly affected at first, but then it rapidly evolves to a comatose state until death. In the event that herpetic encephalitis is diagnosed, treatment is nonspecific and empirical and should be directed toward maintaining vital and supportive functions. As long as a bacterial cause or brain abscess has not been ruled out, antimicrobial therapy can be started.
All patients with severe symptoms should be monitored in an Intensive Care Unit. It is necessary to perform the same laboratory tests implemented for meningitis, including lumbar puncture.
