Final answer:
A patient with encephalitis is most likely to be treated by a neurologist who uses diagnostic tools like EEGs and CT scans and provides supportive care, as well as specific treatments for complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient with encephalitis is most likely to be treated by a neurologist. Encephalitis, which involves inflammation and sometimes swelling of the brain, can lead to severe complications and requires specialized medical care provided by experts in the nervous system.
Neurologists have a variety of diagnostic tools at their disposal, such as electroencephalography (EEG) and computerized tomography (CT) scans to detect abnormalities within the brain.
When a diagnosis is made, treatment typically involves managing the symptoms and providing supportive care, as there are limited antiviral treatments for the viral forms of encephalitis.
In some cases, if the encephalitis has progressed to cause more severe complications like meningitis, the treatment could include aggressive courses of antibiotics, corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, and possibly referrals to a neurosurgeon depending on the condition's severity.