Nursing patients with encephalitis

Encephalitis is a complex syndrome with many aetiologies and presentations. Nurses play an integral role in the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with encephalitis during both the acute and long-term stages of the condition. Diagnosis hinges on clinical assessments including cerebrospinal fluid testing and brain imaging, and antivirals remain as first-line treatment for suspected cases. Lack of awareness or education can limit the effectiveness of the nurse's delivery of care. However, multidisciplinary team input can bridge this divide and provide a person-centred approach to meet the variable and individual care needs that present with each case. The COVID-19 pandemic also demonstrated how nurses need to remain vigilant in considering encephalitis when caring for such patients, in understanding the condition's interaction with the virus, and the impact this may have on the management and long-term care of these patients.