The patient's airway can be protected by repeated suctioning and, if necessary, by endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy. Nutritional support is important, but only conscious patients with intact brain stem function should receive oral feedings. All others should be fed by parenteral or nasogastric techniques. Patients should be monitored closely for secondary infections, especially of the urinary tract and lungs.
Frequent turning decreases the risk of bedsores.
Patients with encephalitis may develop the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion and become water intoxicated, which can lead to deepening coma and, sometimes, seizures. Serum and urine electrolytes and urine output should be monitored frequently. Encephalitis is treated by restricting fluid intake and, in rare instances, with hypertonic saline solution. Specific viruses that cause aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, or both may also require particular treatment regimens.