Meningoencephalitis caused by human herpesvirus-6 in an immunocompetent adult patient: Case report and review of the literature

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is the etiologic agent of roseola infantum, and has been implicated as a possible cause of encephalitis in pediatric and a dult patients. A case of meningoencephalitis in an otherwise healthy, immun ocompetent 59-year-old woman is described. The diagnosis of HHV-6 meningoen cephalitis was confirmed by detecting viral DNA in cerebrospinal fluid coll ected in the acute stage of the disease by polymerase chain reaction, The p atient was treated with acyclovir and recovered,without any sequelae. The c urrent knowledge of the pathophysiology, clinical course and outcome of HHV -6 meningoencephalitis in immunocompetent adult patients is also reviewed.