Clinical Features of Herpes Simplex Encephalitis and Risk Factors for Post-Encephalitic Epilepsy in Children

Abstract

Abstract Objective Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a common form of sporadic encephalitis and is prone to neurological sequelae such as epilepsy in young children, which can have a significant impact on young children at the time of neurological development. This study aimed to analyze the clinical features of HSE in children and to explore its risk factors for post-encephalitic epilepsy (PE). Methods The case data of children who met the HSE diagnostic criteria between January 2013 and June 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed. Results The incidence of PE in children with HSE was 42.2% (19/45cases). The initial symptoms were fever with headache or convulsions. In the acute phase, there were 13 cases (28.9%) with psychiatric behavior disorders, 16 cases (35.6%) with neurological deficit symptoms, and 24 cases (53.3%) with altered consciousness. Univariate analysis of fever duration, fever peak, psychiatric behavior disorders, neurological deficit symptoms, acute phase seizures and seizure frequency, ICU length of stay, admission GCS, and cranial imaging in children with HSE indicated statistically significant mixed involvement (all P < 0.05), and multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that repetitive seizures (more than 5 seizures) (OR = 1.551;95% CI 1.229–1.958, P < 0.001) in the acute phase was an independent risk factor for the occurrence of PE. Conclusion The main symptoms in children with HSE in the acute phase include seizures, altered consciousness, neurological deficit symptoms, and psychiatric behavioral abnormalities. Children with HSE has a high incidence of PE, especially if they have repetitive seizures (more than 5 seizures) in the acute phase.