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St. Louis encephalitis in early infancy

Susan H Wootton1, Sheldon L Kaplan, Dennis M Perrotta

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Infectious Disease Section, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|December 17, 2004
PubMed

Insights

We report the youngest known case of St. Louis encephalitis in a 19-day-old infant. This infant experienced fever and seizures, highlighting the potential severity of this mosquito-borne illness in neonates.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Arbovirology

Background:

  • St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus infection primarily affecting North America.
  • While typically seen in older adults, SLE can occur in children, though documented cases in neonates are exceptionally rare.

Observation:

  • A 19-day-old infant presented with acute onset of fever and seizure activity.
  • Clinical and laboratory investigations confirmed the diagnosis of St. Louis encephalitis.

Findings:

  • This case represents the youngest documented patient diagnosed with St. Louis encephalitis to date.
  • The infant's presentation underscores the potential for severe neurological manifestations of SLE even in the neonatal period.

Implications:

  • Early recognition and diagnosis of St. Louis encephalitis are crucial, particularly in infants presenting with non-specific neurological symptoms.
  • This case highlights the need for heightened awareness of arboviral infections in young infants, especially during mosquito season.
  • Further research into the susceptibility and clinical spectrum of SLE in neonates may be warranted.

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