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Resolution of psychiatric symptoms secondary to herpes simplex encephalitis

¹ Intermediate Rehabilitation Unit, Leigh Infirmary, Greater Manchester, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr T Gaber;
t_gaber@mailcity.com

Keywords: herpes simplex encephalitis

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

We read with interest the editorial by Kennedy et al,¹ detailing the short-term treatment of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). We agree with the authors that we cannot overemphasise the seriousness of the neuropsychiatric symptoms that a number of these patients display in the long term.

We report a 55 year old woman who was diagnosed with HSE; diagnosis was confirmed with a positive PCR test for herpes simplex in the CSF and acyclovir was started the following day after presentation. After a few weeks the patient’s recovery was almost complete and she was discharged home. Six months later, there was an abrupt change when the patient developed insomnia and would sit up all night watching children’s videos; she also became hostile and confused. She was admitted to a psychiatric unit where she continued to be confused and agitated with episodes of extreme behaviour such as undressing or trying to . . . [Full text of this article]

P G E Kennedy², A Chaudhuri²

² Division of Clinical Neurosciences, University Department of Neurology, Ground Floor, Neurology Block, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow G51 4TF, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor P G E Kennedy;
P.G.Kennedy@clinmed.gla.ac.uk