Recurrence of herpes simplex encephalitis]

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) rarely occurs in children, is not easily diagnosed, and has a poor prognosis. CASE REPORT: We report a pediatric case with a relapse on the 29th day despite conventional acyclovir therapy. As the relapse mechanism is not clearly understood, antiviral and immunosuppressive therapy was administered. CONCLUSION: This case underlines the importance of clinical examination and the necessity of accurate testing prior stopping antiviral treatment. A better understanding of the relapse mechanism is required in order to propose more efficient treatment.     

Uncommon complication of herpes simplex encephalitis

A 9-year-old-girl who had herpes simplex encephalitis developed impending uncal herniation requiring surgical decompression. This case highlights the development of an uncommon complication despite the early initiation of treatment with acyclovir.     

快速诊断单纯疱疹病毒脑炎

目的探讨快速诊断单纯疱疹病毒脑炎（ＨＳＥ），比较不同病毒学试验的诊断价值。方法用聚合酶链反应技术检测１７７例急性脑炎患儿的脑脊液（ＣＳＦ）标本中单纯疱疹病毒（ＨＳＶ）特异性ＤＮＡ；用酶联免疫吸附方法检测ＣＳＦ和血清标本中ＨＳＶ特异性ＩｇＭ和ＩｇＧ抗体。结果ＣＳＦ中ＨＳＶ特异性ＤＮＡ、ＩｇＭ和ＩｇＧ抗体阳性率分别为１．７％（３／１７７）、１０％（１／１００）和４７０％（４７／１００），血清ＨＳＶＩｇＭ、ＩｇＧ抗体阳性率分别为１２．５％（６／４８）、７２．９％（５１／７０）（因为标本量不足或缺如，未能对全部病例进行抗体检测）；３例患儿确诊为ＨＳＥ。结论用套式ＰＣＲ检测ＣＳＦ诊断ＨＳＥ较敏感、特异。     

Early diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis in childhood

In the initial phase of HSE the clinical symptomatology is more variable and insidious in babies and young children than in older children and adults. Combined clinical, neurophysiological and neuroradiological studies have been carried out in 12 children with proven HSE.Ten patients had the first EEGs taken during the acute phase of the illness and all showed large amplitude irregular slow activity, sharp waves and often spikes with variable distribution; in 7 cases periodic phenomena were recognisable. At a later stage localised low amplitude EEG activities were found in children with focal neurological symptoms. Areas of low attenuation were seen in the CT scans of the 7 children who had this investigation done at an early stage of their illness. Such low density regions persisted at follow-up and eventually cerebral atrophy with irregular features became obvious.Prompt EEG investigations combined with CT scans provide an early diagnostic clue for treatment. Follow-up EEG studies (including VEP) and CT scans may help assess the severity of residual cerebral damage in the survivors.     

Basal ganglia involvement in a child with herpes simplex encephalitis

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a leading cause of sporadic, nonepidemic viral encephalitis in children and adults. We report a very rare case of HSE with involvement of bilateral thalamus, putamen, upper pons and midbrain, with development of extrapyramidal symptoms which responded to corticosteroid therapy. A 15-mth-old female baby admitted with complaint of fever for 5 days and generalised tonic clonic seizure 10 hours before admission. On clinical examination patient was drowsy, temperature was 39.4 °C and vitals were stable with signs of increased intracranial tension. There were no signs of meningeal irritation. Patient gradually become unconscious in the next few hours and pupils were constricted bilaterally with development of atonia in all four limbs and neck muscles. Doll’s eye phenomenon was absent.     

Relapse of herpes simplex encephalitis after acyclovir therapy

A case of herpes simplex encephalitis in a previously healthy 17-month-old girl relapsing 1 week after completion of a 10-day acyclovir therapy is described. The child responded favourably to a second 10-day course with acyclovir. The time of relapse and the satisfactory response to a second course of acyclovir treatment indicate that the first course of therapy was inadequate for eradication of herpes simplex virus infection.     

Computed tomography in young children with herpes simplex virus encephalitis

Computed tomographic (CT) scans were obtained from eight infants and young children with herpes simplex virus encephalitis. In two cases the initial scan showed diffuse edematous changes as a mass effect without laterality. Unilateral localized low attenuation in the initial scan was evident 4 days after the onset in one patient, and high attenuation in the initial scan appeared on the 6th day in another patient, but in general, it was not possible to establish an early diagnosis of herpes simplex virus encephalitis from CT scan. In the longitudinal study the calcification with ventriculomegaly appeared in 3 of 5 survivors, and gyriform calcification in 2 of 3 patients, respectively. The appearance of multicystic encephalomalacia was evident in one patient 6 months after the onset of neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis. It is shown that the CT findings of neonates and young children with herpes simplex encephalitis are different from those of older children and adults, and the importance of longitudinal CT studies was stressed in clarifying the pathophysiology of the central nervous system involvement in survivors.     

Relapse of herpes simplex encephalitis presenting as choreoathetosis

We report a case of herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis (HSE) in an 11-year-old boy who recovered with acyclovir therapy but developed relapse after 2 weeks. Choreoathetosis was the presenting feature of relapse. Response to antiinflammatory treatment was excellent. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of HSE relapse presenting with choreoathetosis reported from India. We describe the patient and review the literature on HSE and HSE relapse.     

单纯疱疹病毒性脑炎诊断方法与治疗观察

目的探讨单纯疱疹病毒性脑炎（ＨＳＶＥ）的诊断方法，了解对ＨＳＶＥ的治疗效果。方法应用聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）技术和酶联免疫吸附测定（ＥＬＩＳＡ）方法，对２７例病毒性脑炎患儿的脑脊液进行单纯疱疹病毒（ＨＳＶ）ＤＮＡ和特异性ＩｇＭ抗体检测。结果ＨＳＶＤＮＡ阳性１１例；ＨＳＶＩｇＭ阳性４例，其中Ⅰ型３例，Ⅱ型１例；ＤＮＡ与ＩｇＭ同时阳性３例。将脑脊液检查ＨＳＶＤＮＡ阳性或ＨＳＶＩｇＭ抗体阳性者１２例诊断为ＨＳＶＥ，占４４％。对ＨＳＶＥ患儿予以静脉滴注无环鸟苷，连续用药一周，结果治愈８例，好转２例，自动出院及死亡各１例。结论ＰＣＲ与ＩｇＭ抗体检测两种方法相结合有助于ＨＳＶＥ病原学早期诊断，并指导ＨＳＶＥ的临床治疗     

Atypical herpes simplex encephalitis presenting as operculum syndrome

This case report demonstrates the course of herpes simplex virus cerebritis in a patient aged 7 years 2 months who presented with non-specific symptoms followed by an epileptic attack. Subcortical, bilateral opercular and bilateral thalamic lesions were detected, but the temporal and inferior frontal lobes were spared. The patient developed anarthria, impairment of mastication and swallowing consistent with operculum syndrome. Diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging and elevation of oligoclonal antibodies specific to herpes simplex virus in cerebrospinal fluid after an unexpectedly negative polymerase chain reaction test. Received: 28 July 1997 Accepted: 9 July 1998     

儿童单纯疱疹病毒性脑炎的预后影响因素

目的 评价影响儿童单纯疱疹病毒性脑炎(HSE)的预后因素,探讨儿童HSE预后差的病理生理机制.方法 纳入广州市妇女儿童医疗中心2012年1月至2013年10月确诊的儿童HSE 21例,除2例自动出院外,余19例纳入本研究,所有病例脑脊液单纯疱疹病毒(HSV) DNA-PCR检测均阳性.所有病例发病48 h内均未予阿昔洛韦抗病毒治疗,对所有病例进行临床和影像学分析随访,随访时间6个月以上,临床及检查数据包括脑电图(EEG)、改良Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS)评分、脑磁共振成像(MRI)的结果,所有患儿均在住院时和起病1个月后进行至少2次MRI的平扫和增强扫描,然后对分析结果进行合理分组,进行多因素和单因素预后分析,以Logistic回归和Fisher's精确概率法统计分析,计算OR值.结果 本组病例年龄(2.03 ±2.23)岁,GCS评分(9.68±2.65)分,18例患儿存活,5例(27.8％)没有后遗症,3例(16.7％)轻度损害,这8例属于预后好.6例(33.3％)有中度神经系统损害,4例(22.2％)有严重的神经系统后遗症.8例预后好,11例预后差.多因素分析显示EEG、影像学病灶性质分布、年龄、GCS评分与预后相关(P＜0.05).单因素分析显示年龄1～4岁(OR=30,95％ CI 2.066～366.510,P=0.002),GCS评分≤10分(OR=27.518,95％ CI2.066～306.510,P=0.004),MRI显示广泛坏死性异常(OR=12,95％ CI1.294 ～ 111.323,P=0.017)是预后差的高危因素.结论 年龄、GCS评分、MRI的病变性质和损害程度是儿童HSE预后的重要影响因素.儿童HSE容易累及广泛甚至深部核团或白质,坏死性损害为主,是儿童HSE预后差的重要病理基础.     

Brain stem encephalitis due to herpes simplex virus

Abstract A 6 year old child is described with infection due to herpes simplex virus type 1 causing brain stem encephalitis. The diagnosis was established by enzyme immunosorbent assays of the cerebrospinal fluid and serum which demonstrated antibody responses to herpes simplex virus. Recovery occurred and the importance of early use of acyclovir in achieving a good outcome is emphasized.     

Brain stem encephalitis due to herpes simplex virus

A 6 year old child is described with infection due to herpes simplex virus type 1 causing brain stem encephalitis. The diagnosis was established by enzyme immunosorbent assays of the cerebrospinal fluid and serum which demonstrated antibody responses to herpes simplex virus. Recovery occurred and the importance of early use of acyclovir in achieving a good outcome is emphasized.     

Choreoathetosis after herpes simplex encephalitis with basal ganglia involvement on MRI

Children with herpes simplex virus encephalitis have a relapse in approximately 25% of cases, which rarely may present as a movement disorder, most often choreoathetosis. The anatomic basis for herpes simplex virus encephalitis-associated movement disorders has been poorly understood, because neuroimaging, to date, has not been able to show the direct involvement of the areas of the brain that typically govern such movements. We present a patient with abnormal involuntary movements after herpes simplex virus encephalitis, with new lesions on MRI between the time of initial presentation and the development of choreoathetosis. To our knowledge, this is the first patient with a post-herpes simplex virus encephalitis movement disorder with neuroradiographic evidence of thalamic involvement correlating with the onset of abnormal involuntary movements. We describe this patient and review the literature on movement disorders and herpes simplex virus encephalitis. Current understanding of the pathophysiology of post-herpes simplex virus encephalitis movement disorders proposes 2 possible mechanisms that may be responsible: reinfection with the resumption of viral replication, or a postinfectious, immune-mediated process.     

Computed tomography (CT) in children with herpes simplex encephalitis

Computed Tomography (CT) scans were obtained from nine infants with herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSE). The early CT findings were generalized or localized edematous change and a mass effect was also seen in two cases. In the follow-up study two patients showed bilateral gyriform calcification, a rare occurrence in association with intracranial infection. The appearance of multicystic encephalomalacia was evident in one patient 3 months after the onset of disease. It is shown that the CT findings of neonates and young children with HSE are different from those of adults.     

The spectrum of herpes simplex encephalitis in children.

Clinical and basic science research carried out in recent years into herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) have shown that the concept of a "classical" picture of HSE in children is now outdated and that our current knowledge of the disease is probably only the tip of an iceberg. Indeed, increasing evidence supports the existence of a wider range of pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical presentations and disease progressions in paediatric HSE. This paper reviews the clinical, biological and radiological data available and redefines the spectrum of HSE in children. Full understanding of the condition should improve the management of suspected cases and decrease the morbidity and the mortality associated with this disease.