An Unusual Psychiatric Emergency: Herpes Simplex Encephalitis
A case of fatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis, presenting as a psychiatric emergency, is reported. The possibility of HSV encephalitis presenting mainly or solely with psychiatric symptoms is highlighted. HSV can cause a severe form of encephalitis which may present with mainly psychiatric...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
1994-01-01
|
| Series: | Behavioural Neurology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/BEN-1994-7208 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832550834971344896 |
|---|---|
| author | H. Doyle J. Varian |
| author_facet | H. Doyle J. Varian |
| author_sort | H. Doyle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A case of fatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis, presenting as a psychiatric emergency, is reported. The possibility of HSV encephalitis presenting mainly or solely with psychiatric symptoms is highlighted. HSV can cause a severe form of encephalitis which may present with mainly psychiatric symptoms in some cases. Early treatment with anti-viral agents can reduce mortality and morbidity, but accurate early diagnosis may be very difficult. HSV encephalopathy may mimic psychiatric illness and has been likened to syphilis as the great imitator. The case presented here should serve to raise awareness of the psychiatric features and the need to consider this diagnosis in patients with atypical behavioural disturbance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-646300a116b346a1953692b58e80d32e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0953-4180 1875-8584 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 1994-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioural Neurology |
| spelling | doaj-art-646300a116b346a1953692b58e80d32e2025-02-03T06:05:37ZengWileyBehavioural Neurology0953-41801875-85841994-01-0172939510.3233/BEN-1994-7208An Unusual Psychiatric Emergency: Herpes Simplex EncephalitisH. Doyle0J. Varian1North wick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ, UKRoyal Victoria Hospital, Radnor Park West, Folkestone, Kent, UKA case of fatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis, presenting as a psychiatric emergency, is reported. The possibility of HSV encephalitis presenting mainly or solely with psychiatric symptoms is highlighted. HSV can cause a severe form of encephalitis which may present with mainly psychiatric symptoms in some cases. Early treatment with anti-viral agents can reduce mortality and morbidity, but accurate early diagnosis may be very difficult. HSV encephalopathy may mimic psychiatric illness and has been likened to syphilis as the great imitator. The case presented here should serve to raise awareness of the psychiatric features and the need to consider this diagnosis in patients with atypical behavioural disturbance.http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/BEN-1994-7208 |
| spellingShingle | H. Doyle J. Varian An Unusual Psychiatric Emergency: Herpes Simplex Encephalitis Behavioural Neurology |
| title | An Unusual Psychiatric Emergency: Herpes Simplex Encephalitis |
| title_full | An Unusual Psychiatric Emergency: Herpes Simplex Encephalitis |
| title_fullStr | An Unusual Psychiatric Emergency: Herpes Simplex Encephalitis |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Unusual Psychiatric Emergency: Herpes Simplex Encephalitis |
| title_short | An Unusual Psychiatric Emergency: Herpes Simplex Encephalitis |
| title_sort | unusual psychiatric emergency herpes simplex encephalitis |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/BEN-1994-7208 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hdoyle anunusualpsychiatricemergencyherpessimplexencephalitis AT jvarian anunusualpsychiatricemergencyherpessimplexencephalitis AT hdoyle unusualpsychiatricemergencyherpessimplexencephalitis AT jvarian unusualpsychiatricemergencyherpessimplexencephalitis |