Antibiotics in Encephalitis: AIIMS guidelines

Delhi: All India institute of medical sciences has released guidelines on antibiotics use in various infections. Under the section of neurological infections the management of Encephalitis. Encephalitis often leads to only mild flu-like non-specific signs and symptoms — such as a fever or headache — or no symptoms at all. Sometimes the flu-like symptoms are more severe. Encephalitis can also cause confused thinking, seizures, or problems with senses or movement. often causes only mild flu-like signs and symptoms — such as a fever or headache — or no symptoms at all. Sometimes the flu-like symptoms are more severe. Encephalitis can also cause confused thinking, seizures, or problems with senses or movement.

Main recommendations are:

Encephalitis :

When to suspect?

Encephalitis should be suspected in all patients with fever and altered sensorium. Other supportive findings include new seizures, focal neurologic signs, and radiological abnormalities. The threshold to suspect should be low as delay in diagnosis can be fatal.

How to diagnose?

The investigations that should be obtained in all patients with suspected encephalitis include complete blood count with differential, electrolytes, renal and liver function tests, blood cultures, appropriate tests for diagnosing HIV, malaria, dengue, scrub typhus and leptospirosis.