Epidemiological analysis of herpesviral lesions of the nervous system

Abstract

Primary herpesvirus infection usually occurs during childhood and may cause several benign self-limited clinical manifestations, followed by a life-long persistence in a latent state with possible reactivation in case of immunodeficiency. Serious health problems, including CNS lesions can occur as a result of HVs reactivation. Herpesvirus encephalitis (HVE) accounts for up to 40% of all viral encephalitis, and are major causes of mortality and long-term neurological sequelae throughout the world even when using antiviral drugs. Since surveillance and recording of herpesvirus infections (HVI) are not common practice, it is difficult to establish exact figures for the prevalence of both HVI and HVE. Despite being an important public health problem, very few population-based studies have been carried out so far in the world and none in Ukraine. We present the clinical and etiological data obtained in prospective single center population study with 107 enrolled adult patients in Ukraine.