title: Unusual Clinical Presentation and Role of Decompressive Craniectomy in Herpes Simplex Encephalitis.
abstract: Decompressive craniectomy in pediatric central nervous infections with refractory intracranial hypertension is less commonly practiced. We describe improved outcome of decompressive craniectomy in a 7-year-old boy with severe herpes simplex encephalitis and medically refractory intracranial hypertension, along with a brief review of the literature. Timely recognition of refractory intracranial hypertension and surgical decompression in children with herpes simplex encephalitis can be life-saving. Additionally, strokelike atypical presentations are being increasingly recognized in children with herpes simplex encephalitis and should not take one away from the underlying herpes simplex encephalitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Neurology and Neurodevelopment, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India doctorpratibhasinghi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pratibha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Singhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Neurology and Neurodevelopment, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Arushi Gahlot
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Saini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Neurology and Neurodevelopment, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Jitendra Kumar
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sahu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Pediatric Neurology and Neurodevelopment, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Nuthan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiodiagnosis, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Sameer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vyas
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Rakesh Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Vasishta
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D056424:Decompressive Craniectomy / Q000379:methods*; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed
keywords: decompressive craniectomy; herpes simplex encephalitis; intracranial hypertension; pediatric central nervous infections