Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 29, 2026

An Efficient and Simple Method to Establish NK and T Cell Lines from Patients with Chronic Active Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
09:43

An Efficient and Simple Method to Establish NK and T Cell Lines from Patients with Chronic Active Epstein-Barr Virus Infection

Published on: March 30, 2018

Neurological complications of acute and persistent Epstein-Barr virus infection in paediatric patients

Martin Häusler1, Vincent Thomas Ramaekers, Martin Doenges

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Neurology, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Germany. Haeusler@RWTH-Aachen.de

Journal of Medical Virology
|September 5, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause serious neurological issues in children, not just during initial infections. Reactivated EBV infections are linked to conditions like "Alice in Wonderland" syndrome and prolonged encephalitis, impacting cognitive function and brain structure.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurovirology

Background:

  • Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) neurological complications are primarily documented during acute primary infections.
  • The study aimed to prospectively investigate EBV's role in pediatric neurological disease, encompassing acute, chronic, and reactivated infections.

Observation:

  • Active EBV infections were identified in 10 out of 48 pediatric patients over two years.
  • Diagnoses included acute primary EBV (cranial neuritis, cerebellitis), chronic active EBV (T/NK cell lymphoma with cranial neuritis), and reactivated EBV infections.

Findings:

  • Seven patients had reactivated EBV infections, presenting with "Alice in Wonderland" syndrome, facial nerve palsy, progressive macrocephaly, or prolonged encephalitis.
  • Neurological complications included cognitive impairment, epileptic seizures, and hippocampal lesions (atrophy and sclerosis) in severe encephalitis cases.
  • Prognosis varied, with a lethal outcome in T/NK cell lymphoma and long-term deficits in encephalitis patients.

Implications:

  • Reactivated EBV infections represent a significant cause of neurological complications in children.
  • These complications can lead to severe long-term sequelae, including cognitive deficits and epilepsy.
  • EBV reactivation may play a role in the pathogenesis of hippocampal damage in pediatric neurological conditions.

More Related Videos

Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis08:44

Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis

Published on: September 7, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

Arboviral Encephalitis

Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
Chickenpox01:20

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Its transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with vesicular fluid from skin lesions. The incubation period typically ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which the virus replicates and disseminates through sequential phases within the host. Although generally self-limiting in children,...
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...