Pediatria pre prax 3/2026
HSV-1 encephalitis in children – diagnosis and treatment
Herpetic encephalitis (HSE) caused by HSV-1 is the most common cause of sporadic viral encephalitis in both childhood and adulthood. It is an emergency disease in which early recognition, rapid initiation of empirical antiviral therapy, and proper use of diagnostic methods are crucial. The article focuses on the clinical picture, diagnosis, and treatment of HSV-1 encephalitis in children with an emphasis on practical aspects of disease management. The issue of HSV-2 and neonatal encephalitis is only mentioned in passing.
Keywords: HSV-1, herpetic encephalitis, diagnosis of herpetic encephalitis, cerebrospinal fluid findings, PCR, intrathecal HSV-1 antibody production, Mollaret’s benign aseptic meningitis
