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Table 1 Demographic data and presenting symptoms of HSV encephalitis in patients with CSF pleocytosis and patients with normocellular CSF

From: Normocellular CSF in herpes simplex encephalitis

Demographic data

CSF pleocytosis group (WBC > 5cells/mm3)

Normocellular CSF group (WBC ≤ 5cells/mm3)

Number of patients

17

6

Male:female

9:8

1:5

Median age (years) [range]

35 [1–59]

41 [27–85]

Underlying disease

 Normal

13 (76.5 %)

3 (50 %)

 HIV infection

0

1 (16.7 %)

 Diabetes mellitus

2 (11.8 %)

0

 Hematologic malignancy

2 (11.8 %)

0

 Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

0

1 (16.7 %)

 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

0

1 (16.7 %)

Prodrome

 Fever

1 (5.9 %)

1 (16.7 %)

 Fever with headache

9 (52.9 %)

1 (16.7 %)

 Fever with myalgia

1 (5.9 %)

1 (16.7 %)

 Upper respiratory tract symptoms

1 (5.9 %)

0

 Fever with diarrhea

1 (5.9 %)

0

 Fever with non-specific rash

1 (5.9 %)

0

 Headache

2 (11.8 %)

0

 Non-specific

1 (5.9 %)

3 (50 %)

Presenting symptoms

 Worsening headache with/without neck stiffness

2 (11.8 %)

0

 Hemiparesis

1 (5.9 %)

0

 Facial weakness

1 (5.9 %)

0

 Severe spastic body and limbs

1 (5.9 %)

0

 Behavioral change and confusion

4 (23.5 %)

3 (50 %)

 Seizures

5 (29.4 %)

2 (33.3 %)

 Alteration of consciousness

3 (17.6 %)

1 (16.7 %)

Outcome

 Complete recovery

5 (29.4 %)

1 (16.7 %)

 Partial recovery

10 (58.8 %)

4 (66.7 %)

 Dead

2 (11.8 %)

1 (16.7 %)