Neurological infections caused by herpes simplex virus in adults

Infection
|January 1, 1978
PubMed

Insights

Herpes simplex virus caused 26 of 281 neuro-infections over 33 months. This virus led to various neurological conditions, including severe encephalitis, highlighting diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Neuroinfections pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
  • Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a known cause of central nervous system infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and clinical spectrum of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in neuroinfection cases.
  • To discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic considerations for HSV neuroinfections.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study over 33 months.
  • Testing 281 neuroinfection cases for HSV.
  • Virus isolation from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serological tests were employed for HSV identification.

Main Results:

  • Herpes simplex virus (HSV) was identified as the etiological agent in 26 out of 281 (9.25%) neuroinfection cases.
  • Clinical presentations included severe encephalitis (4 cases), less severe encephalitis/meningoencephalitis (12 cases), aseptic meningitis (7 cases), and other neurological syndromes.

Conclusions:

  • Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a significant cause of neuroinfections with diverse clinical manifestations.
  • Effective diagnosis and timely treatment are crucial for managing HSV neuroinfections and improving patient outcomes.

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