TY - JOUR T1 - Successful outcome of Epstein–Barr virus encephalitis managed with bilateral craniectomy, corticosteroids and aciclovir JF - Practical Neurology JO - Pract Neurol SP - 234 LP - 237 DO - 10.1136/practneurol-2012-000234 VL - 12 IS - 4 AU - Emma Hayton AU - Benjamin Wakerley AU - Ian CJW Bowler AU - Marko Bogdanovic AU - Jane Elizabeth Adcock Y1 - 2012/08/01 UR - http://pn.bmj.com/content/12/4/234.abstract N2 - We present a 19-year-old woman with severe encephalitis and raised intracranial pressure requiring decompressive craniectomy. Her clinical features were consistent with encephalitis in the context of acute primary Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection (infectious mononucleosis). Serology, bone marrow aspirate and PCR of blood and cerebrospinal fluid confirmed the diagnosis. She was treated with corticosteroids and aciclovir. She was critically unwell for 3 weeks, requiring artificial ventilation but eventually made a good recovery. EBV encephalitis is uncommon, making the diagnosis and decisions about clinical management challenging. ER -