[Neurologic diseases in herpesvirus infections]

Herpes viruses can give rise to numerous virological infections. Life-threatening situations arise with encephalitis caused by HSV or VZV. Zoster vasculitis is probably more frequent than its diagnosis would suggest, and usually results in paralysis. A particularly troublesome condition is post-herpetic neuralgia that requires a wearisome and often complex treatment. Cerebral nerve involvement and polyradiculitis may be associated with almost all the human pathogenic herpes viruses. In patients with herpetic CNS involvement, early treatment is necessary.