Related Experiment Videos
Herpes simplex type II encephalitis in infancy presenting with focal encephalitis
Neuropediatrics
|November 1, 1986
Summary
Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV-2) encephalitis was diagnosed in a six-month-old infant presenting with seizures and a brain lesion. Early IgM positivity aided diagnosis, and the infant recovered with hemiparesis after antiviral treatment.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) encephalitis is a serious neurological condition.
- HSV-2 encephalitis typically presents as a primary infection in infants and immunocompromised adults.
- Distinguishing between HSV-1 and HSV-2 encephalitis is crucial for prognosis and treatment.
Observation:
- A six-month-old infant presented with fever, focal seizures, and a frontal brain lesion on CT scan.
- Herpes virus was isolated from throat, nasopharyngeal, and brain tissue samples.
- Cytopathic effect and immunofluorescent typing confirmed the isolate as HSV-2.
Findings:
- Early IgM positivity was observed, preceding complement fixation (CF) and serum neutralization (SN) antibody titers.
- The infant received acyclovir (ARA-A) treatment and showed recovery with residual left-sided hemiparesis.
- This case highlights HSV-2 encephalitis occurring as a primary infection in an infant.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and treatment of HSV-2 encephalitis in infants are critical to improve outcomes.
- Understanding the distinct epidemiological patterns of HSV-1 and HSV-2 encephalitis is important for clinical management.
- This case contributes to the understanding of non-neonatal HSV-2 encephalitis presentation and diagnosis.