Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  2014 Aug;21(2):150-156.

Neonatal Meningoencephalitis caused by Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2

• Kim DE
• Pae R
• Bae EY
• Han JY
• Han SB
• Jeong DC
• Lee IG
• Kang JH

Abstract

Despite its rare occurrence, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment for neonatal herpes simplex virus infection are mandatory due to its high morbidity and mortality. In Korea, there has been no epidemiologic data on neonatal herpes simplex virus infection, and even case reports are rare. We observed a 16-day-old neonate who presented with fever and seizures. We diagnosed her with meningoencephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 based on the polymerase chain reaction test, and treated her with intravenous acyclovir and anticonvulsants. The seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 sharply increases in women in their 30s, and the average age for childbirth has increased to older than 30 years of age in Korea; we therefore expect that the incidence of neonatal herpes simplex virus type 2 infection will rise in Korea, and more attention should be directed to neonatal herpes simplex virus type 2 infection. We report this newborn patient's case along with a literature review.

Keyword

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2; Meningoencephalitis; Neonate; Republic of Korea

MeSH Terms

Acyclovir
Anticonvulsants
Early Diagnosis
Female
Fever
Herpesvirus 2, Human*
Humans
Incidence
Infant, Newborn
Korea
Meningoencephalitis*
Mortality
Parturition
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Republic of Korea
Seizures
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Simplexvirus
Acyclovir
Anticonvulsants

Figure

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  Fig. 1. (A) The initial electroencephalography shows regular and symmetric background activity of 1–3 Hz, with intermittent sharp high-amplitude waves in both frontal areas. (B) An EEG repeated at three months after diagnosis of meningoencephalitis shows no abnormal findings.

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  Fig. 2. (A) Initial brain magnetic resonance imaging on hospital day 2 shows only leptomeningeal enhancement on the axial T1-weighted image. Repeated brain magnetic resonance imaging three months after the diagnosis shows (B) cystic lesions in the cortex and subcortical white matter of both frontal lobes on the axial T1-weighted image and (C) old hemorrhages in the cerebral parenchyma and (D) the cerebellar parenchyma on the axial echo planar image.

Reference

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