Clinical signs as a guide for performing HSV-PCR in correct diagnosis of herpes simplex virus encephalitis

Background: Clinical criteria (symptoms) are not reliable enough to differentiate between different causes of encephalitis. The clinical presentation of herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE) is not classically constant and in such a patient, therefore, it is vital to make early diagnosis. Aims: To investigate satisfactory and crucial clinical signs as guide to perform HSV-PCR in a rapid diagnosis of herpes simplex virus encephalitis. Material and Methods: A total of 156 CSF specimens from 70 patients with clinically suspected HSVE or meningoencephalitis were tested. The criteria for cases suspected of HSVE were fever > of lymphocytes, and MRI findings could be suggested for HSV-PCR examination. Conclusion: At the first admission, a preliminary finding of at least two important clinical features mentioned above along with the pattern of CSF cell and differential counts could be sufficient to perform HSV-PCR which could ultimately result in a rapid and correct diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis.