children s health issues
Viral Central Nervous System Infections in Children
Prognosis for Viral CNS Infections in Children
Prognosis varies greatly with the type of infection. Many types of viral meningitis and encephalitis are mild, and the child recovers quickly and completely. Other types are severe. Brain infection with herpes simplex virus is particularly grave. Without treatment, about 50% of newborns with encephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus die. More than half of those who survive have severe neurologic problems. If the untreated herpes infection involves other parts of the body as well as the brain, the death rate is as high as 85%. Treatment withacyclovirdecreases the death rate and increases the percentage of children who develop normally. 