Herpes simplex encephalitis.

摘要

Worldwide, herpes simplex encephalitis is the most common cause of non-epidemic encephalitis. Julia Granerod and colleagues,1 during a 2-year study in England, identified 203 patients with encephalitis, the cause of which was infectious for 42%; herpes simplex was the most frequent cause in 22% of immunocompetent individuals. Nevertheless, herpes simplex encephalitis is still sufficiently rare for many clinicians not to have seen a case during their careers, but it has resulted in many costly medicolegal claims from delays in the administration of aciclovir to patients suspected of having this encephalitis. Herpes simplex is one of the fastest replicating viruses that infects human beings, but aciclovir, when administered intravenously, is well tolerated and very effective in inhibiting viral replication.