A case of brain-stem encephalitis with strong serologic evidence of acute Epstein-Barr virus infection is described. Recovery was rapid without treatment, but mild neurologic sequelae were seen at 6-month follow-up. Epstein-Barr virus infection in childhood may be asymptomatic and heterophil antibody negative. Encephalitis is an unusual but well-recognized complication of Epstein-Barr virus infection, but localized brain-stem involvement, to our knowledge, has not been previously described.