Abstract

Herpes simplex encephalitis is an uncommon but severe disease with high mortality and morbidity. The estimates of the incidence range from two to four cases per million population each year. Approximately 30% of them occur in children, either in the neonatal period, acquired from maternal genital tract infection, or as sporadic encepha-litis in older children.The aim of the study was to find out the incidence of HE among Estonian children, and compare the data about the clinical characteristics and diagnostic findings of HE for neonates and older children.