Acute encephalitis is a complex and severe disease. It can be caused by a wide variety of infectious and non-infectious entities, creating an elusive clinical picture for many neurologists. After extensive evaluations many patients do not have firm diagnoses and most diagnoses take significant amounts of time. During this time some patients deteriorate clinically.
One focus of the Johns Hopkins Encephalitis Center is the development of novel diagnostic technologies that will improve on our ability to identify the causes of patients’ illnesses. This research includes manufacturing new technologies and diagnostic algorithms that will aid in a clinician’s ability to reach a diagnosis quickly. Improving diagnostic capabilities will invariably produce more effective and specific treatment options for affected patients.
