[Use of Corticosteroids in Neurological Infections]

In the therapeutic management of neurological infections, corticosteroids play a selective adjunctive role and can be administered in combination with antibiotics or antivirals, depending on the pathological conditions. In adults with bacterial meningitis, short-term dexamethasone is administered during the acute phase. In contrast, tuberculous meningitis requires prolonged intravenous dexamethasone therapy. In adults with herpes simplex virus encephalitis, dexamethasone may be used during the acute phase to suppress the cytokine-mediated inflammatory cascade and reduce the risk of developing autoimmune encephalitis.