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[The E.E.G. of herpes encephalitis in children: 3 cases including one neonate (author's transl)]
Insights
Herpes encephalitis in infants presents with unique periodic electroencephalogram (EEG) activity, often preceding seizures. This pattern
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neurophysiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a significant cause of encephalitis in infants.
- Early diagnosis and understanding of neurological manifestations are crucial for patient outcomes.
Observation:
- Three pediatric cases of herpes encephalitis are presented, aged 15 days, 12 months, and 18 months.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed periodic, focal/lateralized temporal activity appearing between days 4-7.
- Convulsive seizures preceded the identification of this unusual, stereotyped periodic EEG activity in all infants.
Findings:
- The periodic EEG complexes exhibited short periodicity and altered morphology/timing during seizures.
- The neonate case resulted in death, while the other two infants recovered with severe neurological sequelae.
- A correlation between the transient nature of periodic activity, patient age, and disease prognosis is suggested.
Implications:
- This study highlights a distinct EEG pattern in infantile herpes encephalitis.
- Understanding this specific EEG signature may aid in earlier diagnosis and prognostication.
- Further research is warranted to explore the relationship between EEG periodicity, age, and long-term outcomes in pediatric herpes encephalitis.
Abstract:
The authors report 3 cases of herpes encephalitis in children aged respectively 15 days, 12 months and 18 months. In all 3 cases E.E.G. activity of a periodic nature was noted, which was continuous or intermittent, lateralised or focal in the temporal region, appearing from the 4th to 7th day. The periodicity (of the E.E.G. complex) was short and their stereotyped appearance particularly unusual in babies. In all 3 children convulsive seizures occurred before the discovery of the periodic activity. The latter was found to change in morphology and timing during the seizures. The disease process led to death of the neonate, and recovery with serious sequellae in the other two children. Possible relationships between the transitory nature of the periodic acitivity, the age and the eventual course of the disease, were discussed.