Biomaterial Database

Neurosyphilis mimicking herpes simplex encephalitis. 1998

F Angus, and H Maysuria, and C S Bryan

Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital, Columbia, SC, USA.

We report the case of a 34-year old man who presented with confusion and temporal lobe symptoms and signs without motor neuron involvement, suggesting herpes simplex encephalitis, as a reminder to "think syphilis" in all patients with unexplained neurologic deficits.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009494	Neurosyphilis	Infections of the central nervous system caused by TREPONEMA PALLIDUM which present with a variety of clinical syndromes. The initial phase of infection usually causes a mild or asymptomatic meningeal reaction. The meningovascular form may present acutely as BRAIN INFARCTION. The infection may also remain subclinical for several years. Late syndromes include general paresis; TABES DORSALIS; meningeal syphilis; syphilitic OPTIC ATROPHY; and spinal syphilis. General paresis is characterized by progressive DEMENTIA; DYSARTHRIA; TREMOR; MYOCLONUS; SEIZURES; and Argyll-Robertson pupils. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp722-8)	General Paresis,Juvenile Paresis,Paretic Neurosyphilis,Syphilis, Central Nervous System,Central Nervous System Syphilis,General Paralysis,General Paralysis of the Insane,General Paresis of the Insane,Neurosyphilis, Asymptomatic,Neurosyphilis, Gummatous,Neurosyphilis, Juvenile,Neurosyphilis, Secondary,Neurosyphilis, Symptomatic,Paralysis, General,Secondary Neurosyphilis,Syphilis, CNS
D003937	Diagnosis, Differential	Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures.	Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D006561	Herpes Simplex	A group of acute infections caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2 that is characterized by the development of one or more small fluid-filled vesicles with a raised erythematous base on the skin or mucous membrane. It occurs as a primary infection or recurs due to a reactivation of a latent infection. (Dorland, 27th ed.)	Herpes Simplex Virus Infection
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D018792	Encephalitis, Viral	Inflammation of brain parenchymal tissue as a result of viral infection. Encephalitis may occur as primary or secondary manifestation of TOGAVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; HERPESVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; ADENOVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; FLAVIVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; BUNYAVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; PICORNAVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; PARAMYXOVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; ORTHOMYXOVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; RETROVIRIDAE INFECTIONS; and ARENAVIRIDAE INFECTIONS.	Encephalomyelitis, Infectious, Viral,Infectious Encephalomyelitis, Viral,Viral Encephalitis,Encephalomyelitis, Viral Infectious,Viral Infectious Encephalomyelitis