A Case of Encephalitis Caused by Epstein-Barr Virus Infection.

Do,  Hyun Jeong; Baek,  Jong Geun; Yeom,  Jung Sook; Park,  Ji Sook; Park,  Eun Sil

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society 2009;17(2):247-252.
Published online November 30, 2009.

A Case of Encephalitis Caused by Epstein-Barr Virus Infection.

Hyun Jeong Do, Jong Geun Baek, Jung Sook Yeom, Ji Sook Park, Eun Sil Park

Department of Pediatrics, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea. polo96@daum.net

Abstract

An 11-year-old girl was diagnosed with encephalitis due to Epstein-Barr virus(EBV). She was admitted to our hospital due to convulsion and decreased consciousness after several days of fever, sore throat and headache. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed lymphocyte-dominant pleocytosis and markedly elevated levels of protein. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) finding was normal, except for marked leptomeningeal enhancement. Even though she had signs and symptoms of infectious mononucleosis, EBV infection could not be considered as the underlying cause of the encephalitis until IgM for the viral capsid antigen of EBV had been detected in her blood. After treatment with acyclovir, a high dose of methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin, the neurological symptoms improved rapidly. She has not suffered from any neurological complications in the four months since being discharged. EBV infection should be considered as the main etiology in cases of childhood encephalitis, although there is no evidence of infectious mononucleosis existed.

Key Words: Infectious mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus Infections, Encephalitis