Research trends on herpes simplex encephalitis in children: a bibliometric analysis from 1975 to 2024.

Background: Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) in children represents a severe neurological condition with potentially lasting consequences. This bibliometric study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of global research trends, key developments, and emerging areas of interest in pediatric HSE. Methods: Literature research was performed in the Web of Science Core Collection, covering publications between 1975 and 2024. VOSviewer, CiteSpace and R 4.3.3 were employed for data analysis and visualization. Results: A total of 413 relevant studies were identified. The analysis revealed a consistent growth in research output on pediatric HSE, with the United States emerging as the leading country in both publication volume and academic influence. Institutions such as Rockefeller University and Université Paris Cité were major contributors to the field. Journals including Pediatric Neurology and Clinical Infectious Diseases published the most influential articles. Influential authors included Zhang SY and Casanova JL, who made significant contributions to understanding genetic and immune mechanisms. The keyword analysis revealed research hotspots around immune responses, genetic mutations, and autoimmune encephalitis, indicating a shift towards personalized medicine approaches. Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis provides an overview of research progress in pediatric HSE, identifying key trends, influential contributions, and emerging focal areas. The findings offer valuable insights into the current state of the field and suggest directions for future research, with a particular emphasis on personalized therapeutic strategies in pediatric HSE.