症例 challenge · Infectious disease / Neurology / Emergency · teaching

Herpes Simplex Encephalitis — Management Pathway · case challenge

Given a case, work through the care pathway step by step; the tool checks each choice and scores you. Decisions and basis are taken from this site's reviewed care pathways.

← View the full flowchartBased on AMBOSS / IDSA

Case #1Infectious disease / Neurology / Emergency

📋 Case data

Suspected HSV encephalitis?Suspected HSV encephalitis

Data is taken from this pathway's reviewed node text. Work through the pathway step by step.

Step 1 / 1 · Suspected HSV encephalitis?

Fever + altered consciousness + focal signs/seizures — suspected HSV encephalitis?

💡 The most common cause of sporadic fatal encephalitis, HSV-1 involving the medial temporal/inferior frontal lobes. Fever + headache → altered consciousness (common) + focal deficit/seizures/behavioral change (this combination suggests HSV encephalitis, distinct from bacterial meningitis). LP CSF: lymphocytic pleocytosis, raised protein, may have red cells; HSV PCR is the gold standard (but can be false-negative within 72 h); MRI temporal lobe lesions (first-line, may be normal early).

For teaching. Decisions and their basis are taken from this site's reviewed care pathways; for licensed clinicians/trainees, this does not replace clinical judgment or local protocols.