What are the main clinical features of Herpes simplex encephalitis?

• fever, headache, psychiatric symptoms, seizures, vomiting
• focal features e.g. aphasia
• peripheral lesions (e.g. cold sores) have no relation to the presence of HSV encephalitis

What is the management of Herpes simplex encephalitis?

intravenous aciclovir

What is the pathophysiology of Herpes simplex encephalitis?

• HSV-1 is responsible for 95% of cases in adults
• typically affects temporal and inferior frontal lobes

What lobe does Herpes simplex encephalitis typically effect?

temporal lobes

What might be seen on CT in Herpes simplex encephalitis?

• medial temporal and inferior frontal changes (e.g. petechial haemorrhages)
• normal in one-third of patients

What is seen in CSF in Herpes simplex encephalitis?

lymphocytosis, elevated protein