الفهرس 
PCR for detection of herpes simplex virus in Egyptian children with acute encephalitis
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Abstract
Detection of HSV DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) assay has been validated for the diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) herpes infections. HSV PCR in the CSF is currently recognized as the reference method. This sensitive but expensive test is included in the routine evaluation of many patients with suspected CNS infection. The aim of the study isto detect the prevalence of HSV encephalitis among patients presenting with acute encephalitis, clarifying etiology, clinical presentation, complications and outcome of herpetic viral encephalitis in cohort Egyptian children. This prospective study included 40 infants and children with encephalitis aged from 1 month to 12 years old. All our patients were admitted to Emergency department at Cairo university pediatric Hospitals during the study period of 9 months from April 2015 to Dece mber 2015. All cases were subjected to full and detailed history, examinations, routine laboratory investigations, neuro imaging (brain CT scan for 15 cases and MRI for 2 cases only) and CSF specimens was collected aseptically for physical and chemical examination, leukocyte count, CSF culture and PCR to define causative agent