A case of late herpes simplex encephalitis relapse

Abstract

Late relapse of herpes simplex encephalitis, defined as recurrence more than 3 months after the first initial encephalitic episode, is a rare condition. We describe the case of an adult patient who presented a relapse of herpes simplex encephalitis 8 years after the first episode occurred at the age of 57 years and review the literature of this topic.

Keywords: CPAP-NIV; CSF; CT; EEG; Encephalitis; HIV; HSE; HSV; Herpes simplex; ICU; MRI; PCR; PLEDs; Relapse; cerebrospinal fluid; computed tomography; continuous positive airways pressure non-invasive ventilation; electroencephalography; herpes simplex encephalitis; herpes simplex virus; human immunodeficiency virus; intensive care unit; magnetic resonance imaging; periodic lateralized epileptic discharges; positive polymerase chain reaction.