Introduction: Viral encephalitis (VE) is an inflammation of the brain parenchyma that progresses to neurological dysfunction of infectious origin. It occurs after hematogenous dissemination into the Central Nervous System and the most common agents are herpes virus, influenza, enterovirus, arbovirus, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr. The signs and symptoms are headache, fever, decreased level of consciousness, seizures, focal deficits and behavioral changes. Objective: Recognize the epidemiological pattern of hospitalizations for VE in Brazil, between 2010 and 2020. Methods: A search for original articles and statistical information was performed in the databases Scielo, PUBMED, Medline and DATASUS, the latter related hospitalizations for VE with region, age, gender and year. Results: Hospitalizations are greater between 0 and 14 Y.O. (59.6%) in both genders, being 1.38M: 1F. The data indicate: <1 Y.O. (15%), 1-4 Y.O. (18.1%), 5-9 Y.O. (16.2%), 10-14 Y.O. (10.2%), totalizing 59.5% (21,004) of hospitalizations (35,188) in these groups, also intensified, between 20-29 Y.O., with 3,956 cases (11.2%). Comparing 2010 and 2020 there was a 63.4% reduction in hospitalizations for VE and the Southeast had the highest rate of the disease (42.1%). Conclusion: The epidemiological pattern of VE in the last decade represented higher prevalence in the interval between 0 and 14 Y.O.; mainly from 1 to 4. The decrease in the last 11 years may be due to adherence to vaccination campaigns and increased vector control, while the hypothesis for the higher incidence in the Southeast is because it is the most populous region, with favorable geographical areas for viral dissemination.