Herpetic Meningoencephalitis by Vertical Transmission: A Case Report and Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective: To report a case of vertical herpetic meningoencephalitis. Results: The involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) in infection by HSV (herpes simplex virus), HSV-1 or HSV-2, causes an acute inflammatory process in the brain parenchyma, leading to herpetic encephalitis. It is a feared form of the disease due to its severity and its high rate of morbidity and mortality. Its rapid fatal progression can be prevented from early suspicion and treatment, which is essential when taking into account their neurological sequelae since survivors have motor sequelae, behavioral disorders, or epilepsy. The present work reports the case of a newborn male with spontaneous vaginal delivery who, at 19 days of age, started to experience fever, irritability, difficulty in eating, spasms, tremors of the upper limbs, deviation of the eyes, and seizures of difficult to control, together with CFE and serological changes, in addition to imaging tests compatible with herpetic meningoencephalitis, progressing with a very serious evolution despite the institution of specific treatment for CNS herpetic infection, evolving with important neurological sequelae. Conclusion: The sequels resulting from herpetic encephalitis not properly diagnosed, or even late, leads from severe neurological damage to death. Therefore, it is extremely important to start empirical treatment with antiviral drugs to reduce the sequelae mentioned above.