Encephalitis

Encephalitis care at Mayo Clinic

Your Mayo Clinic care team

Mayo Clinic's encephalitis team includes experts who specialize in the brain and nervous system (neurologists), brain imaging (neuroradiologists) and infectious diseases. Specialists in the Neuro-Infectious Diseases Group are frequently involved in care.

Doctors at Mayo Clinic's campus in Minnesota have experience evaluating and treating children with encephalitis (pediatric neurologists). Mayo Clinic's campus in Minnesota also offers care for children with encephalitis in the Mayo Eugenio Litta Children's Hospital.

Having all of this subspecialized expertise in a single place, focused on you, means that you're not just getting one opinion — care is discussed among the team, appointments are scheduled in coordination and highly specialized encephalitis experts are all working together to determine what's best for you or your child.

Advanced diagnosis and treatment

Encephalitis can be overlooked because signs and symptoms are similar to other conditions. Mayo Clinic specialists have experience recognizing the clinical characteristics of encephalitis. Mayo Clinic also has advanced brain imaging to assist with diagnosis. Early diagnosis and treatment of encephalitis are important to prevent serious complications.

Latest research

Infectious diseases of the nervous system are among the most challenging neurological disorders. A major focus of Mayo Clinic researchers is to develop new diagnostic markers and treatments for encephalitis.

The Mayo Clinic experience and patient stories

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced. See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients.

Expertise and rankings

Experience

Mayo Clinic health care providers care for and treat over 1,700 people with encephalitis each year. Early treatment is important to prevent serious complications of encephalitis. Mayo Clinic specialists have experience recognizing the clinical characteristics of encephalitis.

Teamwork

Mayo Clinic neurologists, neuroradiologists and infectious disease specialists work together to diagnose and treat adults and children with encephalitis. Pediatric neurologists at Mayo Clinic's campus in Minnesota may be involved in diagnosing and treating children with encephalitis. Specialists at the Neuro-Infectious Diseases Group are frequently involved in care.

Nationally recognized expertise

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, rank among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2023-2024 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.

Learn more about Mayo Clinic's neurology and infectious diseases departments' expertise and rankings.

Locations, travel and lodging

Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.

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Costs and insurance

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.

In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.

Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.