Symptoms of herpes simplex encephalitis

Herpes simplex virus encephalitis can occur at any age, so everyone should take the prevention of this disease seriously. If you find symptoms such as fever, general discomfort, headache, menstrual pain, drowsiness, etc. in the early stages, you should pay attention to get checked.

1) The disease can occur at any age, and about 2/3 of cases occur in adults over 40 years old. The incubation period of primary infection is 2 to 21 days, with an average of 6 days. The prodromal period may include symptoms such as fever, general malaise, headache, myalgia, drowsiness, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The onset is usually acute, and about 1/4 of patients have a history of oral herpes. The body temperature can reach as high as 38.4~40.0℃ after the onset of the disease. The course of the disease is from several days to 1 to 2 months.

2) Common clinical symptoms include headache, vomiting, mild changes in consciousness and personality, memory loss, mild hemiparesis, hemianopsia, aphasia, ataxia, hyperactivity (tremor, choreiform movements, myoclonus), meningeal irritation signs, etc. About 1/3 of patients experience generalized or partial epileptic seizures. Some patients may visit a psychiatric department because mental and behavioral abnormalities are the first or only symptom, manifested by inattention, slow reaction, reduced speech, emotional indifference, dull expression, sitting or lying in bed, lazy movements, and even inability to take care of themselves; or stupor, mutism; or increased movements, strange and impulsive behavior, etc.

3) The disease often progresses rapidly within a few days. Most patients have impaired consciousness, confusion or delirium. As the disease worsens, drowsiness, lethargy, coma or decorticate state may occur. Some patients fall into a coma rapidly in the early stages of the disease. Severely ill patients may die due to increased intracranial pressure and even brain herniation caused by extensive brain necrosis and cerebral edema.