title: [Neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis: clinical profile versus molecular biology].
abstract: Herpes simplex encephalitis is a diagnostic challenge and causes high morbidity and mortality in children. Early suspicion of the disease and a rapid, safe and useful diagnostic test are relevant because up to 70% of the cases may die. We report the case of a newborn girl aged 25 days, who presented with a clinical picture that was compatible with herpes simplex encephalitis where the confirmation of the etiological diagnosis was delayed. Only by repeated real-time polymerase chain reaction it was possible to confirm the presence of herpes simplex virus type 1 in the cerebrospinal fluid.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Formación en Infectología Pediátrica, Universidad de Chile, Chile. gianninai@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Giannina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cofré
authors.forename: J Pablo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Venegas
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vergara
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farfán
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir