Herpes Simplex Encephalitis

Question: Any victims of HSE (Herpes Simplex Encephalitis)? HSE is a mental disorder that I was diagnosed with after having a seizure at work and many other seizures that followed. My neurologist told me not to worry as it will go away in approximately 6 months. This was almost 3 years ago. HSE is affecting me greatly. My memory is shot, limiting my vocabulary, comprehension, creativity.. not to mention how it is wrecking my work. I can't remember conversations with people, can't remember names, faces, passwords, PIN's, phone numbers, etc.. I feel afraid of stepping out of the house in case I have an aura (where I space-out) or have a seizure. I can list many, many other ways I have been affected, but the one that scares me the most is the depression that comes with it all. I would like to hear from anyone who has been through or going through HSE and how they are handling it. appreciate it, thank you. bump... I new HSE was rare, but not this much!

Answer: Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Common symptoms include headaches, fevers, drowsiness, hyperactivity, and/or general weakness. The disorder may have some symptoms similar to those associated with meningitis, such as a stiff neck, altered reflexes, confusion, and/or speech abnormalities. Skin lesions usually are not found in association with herpes simplex encephalitis. Herpes simplex encephalitis is caused by a virus known as herpes simplex virus (HSV). . Resources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Road NE Atlanta, GA 30333 Tel: (404)639-3534 Tel: (800)311-3435 Email: http://www.cdc.gov/netinfo.htm Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/ NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 9000 Rockville Pike Building 31A Bethesda, MD 20892 Tel: (301)496-5717 Fax: (301)402-0120 Internet: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) 31 Center Drive 8A07 Bethesda, MD 20892-2540 Tel: (301)496-5751 Fax: (301)402-2186 Tel: (800)352-9424 Email: braininfo@ninds.nih.gov Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ Encephalitis Society 7B Saville Street Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 7LL UK Tel: 44 (0) 1652 625 583 Email: mail@encephalitis.info Internet: http://www.encephalitis.info For a Complete Report This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdbli… The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians. It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report. This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder. For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org Last Updated: 4/6/2001 Copyright 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2001 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

Question: herpes simplex virus type 1 encephalitis how long does it last? My mom has this and has been in a 'sleeping' state since Friday. How long does this last?

Answer: She needs immediate medical attention, like YESTERDAY!!! Once you get medical help, the details of this problem will be explained to you by the doctor. Good Luck

Question: Is the headache associated with encephalitis generally continuous once it starts, or can it come and go? Most online resources mention headache and fever as symptoms, but they don't mention if the headache comes and goes throughout the day, or if it is a continuous pain. I'm curious if the headache associated with encephalitis (particularly herpes simplex encephalitis, but also for the general kind) can come and go throughout the day, or if the swelling of the brain results in continuous head pain and/or fever, regardless of what else is going on externally.

Answer: There are lots of different types of encephalitis. And as you noticed, most resources simply list "headache" as a symptom. Although, I might add that, at least for some types of encephalitis, it's typically a headache that is severe enough to bring people into the ER [1]. With rabies, the headache is continuous [2]. I found one case report of a women who presented with continuous headache (as well as other symptoms), and the differential diagnosis in the article includes multiple types of encephalitis [3]. That's about all I could find. Hope that helps.