Cerebral infarction associated with possible enteroviral infection in an infant

Wen-Hsin Tsai1, Wang-Tso Lee, Chun-Yi Lu

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Acta Paediatrica Taiwanica = Taiwan Er Ke Yi Xue Hui Za Zhi
|May 5, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Enterovirus infection can rarely cause cerebral infarction in infants. This case highlights enterovirus-induced vasculitis leading to stroke in a young child.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Enterovirus infections are uncommon causes of cerebral infarction in infants.
  • Cerebral infarction in infants presents a diagnostic challenge, particularly when linked to viral etiologies.

Observation:

  • A 2-month-old infant presented with focal seizures and hemiparesis during an enterovirus 71 epidemic.
  • Neuroimaging revealed vasculitis of the left anterior cerebral artery and subsequent cerebral infarction.

Findings:

  • This case suggests a link between enterovirus infection and focal vasculitis affecting the central nervous system.
  • The findings indicate that enterovirus-related vasculitis can lead to cerebral infarction in infants.

Implications:

  • Enterovirus-induced vasculitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute hemiplegia and cerebral infarction in children.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the pathogenesis of enterovirus-related central nervous system diseases.

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