Chronic Herpes Simplex Virus Encephalitis in Childhood

Although herpes simplex virus is a major cause of acute encephalitis in childhood, chronic herpes simplex virus encephalitis has only rarely been reported. This report presents a case of chronic herpes simplex virus encephalitis in a 6-year-old female. Diagnosis was based on the detection of herpes simplex virus deoxyribonucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction in combination with the cerebrospinal fluid/serum ratio of herpes simplex virus-specific immunoglobulin G, the presence of herpes simplex virus-specific oligoclonal immunoglobulin G bands in cerebrospinal fluid, and calcifications in the temporal regions found on cerebral computed tomographic scan. Prolonged antiviral therapy was beneficial to later mental development.