Varicella zoster encephalitis

[reluinta]

Hi

Just joined.

My father has recently been diagnosed with varicella zoster encephalitis.

He is taking Aciclovir.

I'd like to know please, what will the health outcomes be?

He has not gone into coma and seems to be recovering, though very slowly.

He is awake but not lucid, his speech is still confused.

Does he have a fair chance of surviving?

In this case, how much time will it take until he is back to normal?

Thanks

[Trisuitmaker]

All these Encephalitus complaints can be devastating. I’m not a doctor I do have a wife 66 who had a serious attack which was touch and go. She was not expected to live. It sounds to me they caught your father early.

Recovery is not going to be quick. Symptoms tend to be loss of memory confusion plus physical incapacity

We are three years in, and only just seeing resemblances of memory. Confusion is still paramount she saw people in the house, she doesn’t see them. it’s like a distant past memory jumps forward to a few minutes ago. Facial blindness. where she confuses who people are, including me, hubby of 50 yrs.

Be patient with him. It’s much like Alzheimers/ Dementia but with a recovery rather than worsening.

By the way Dementia is a global word covering multitudes of brain injury

Sorry can’t be more specific every case is different and very rare.

[reluinta]

Hi, Trisuitmaker

Thanks so much for your answer.

My father entered the hospital a week ago, last Sunday. He's 71.

The doctor's estimation is that he might have got it about 4-6 months ago.

Recently he has responded to some stimulus, he has laughed, he's told nurses that they should help other patients too, he talked about his sister who is a nurse at the hospital where he is but she's now absent -- this has given us some hope, which we take with precaution, as we've been told there are, and will continue to be, ups and downs along the way...

We also fear he won't recognize us at first, so we are trying to be prepared for that...

From what I understand, like your wife, he remembers and talks about distant memories, from about forty years ago, but he has difficulty with recent memories.

We don't know yet when he will come home.

It occurs to me to, in due time, stimulate him with music he likes, but for now the doctors have said it's too early for that, that he should rest his head now.

Also, with other things he likes, as smells, food, photographs... Things that can bring a positive reaction from him...

Thanks for your answer, it helps us to have some feedback from others.

Much motivation to you and your wife in this path