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Childhood encephalitis in Crete, Greece

Anestis Ilias1, Emmanouil Galanakis, Maria Raissaki

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

Journal of Child Neurology
|September 29, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric encephalitis cases in Greece were caused by various viruses and bacteria. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) proved valuable, and post-vaccine era encephalitis from measles, mumps, and rubella was eliminated.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neuroradiology

Background:

  • Encephalitis in children poses significant diagnostic and management challenges.
  • Understanding the etiology and long-term outcomes of pediatric encephalitis is crucial for public health.
  • The impact of vaccination on the incidence of specific encephalitis types requires ongoing surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the causes and clinical characteristics of pediatric encephalitis cases.
  • To evaluate the diagnostic utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pediatric encephalitis.
  • To assess the long-term sequelae and outcomes of childhood encephalitis.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 18 hospitalized pediatric encephalitis cases over a 5-year period (2000-2004).
  • Identification of causative agents, including viral (echovirus, HSV-1, VZV, CMV, influenza A) and bacterial (Mycoplasma pneumoniae, GAS, Rickettsia typhi) pathogens.
  • Correlation of clinical presentation and long-term outcomes with MRI findings.

Main Results:

  • Viral infections accounted for eight cases, and bacterial infections for five cases.
  • Multiple hyperintense brain lesions on MRI correlated with severe clinical presentation but not long-term outcome.
  • Five children experienced mild to moderate sequelae, with no fatalities observed.

Conclusions:

  • Measles, mumps, and rubella-associated encephalitis have been eliminated in the post-vaccine era.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a valuable diagnostic tool for pediatric encephalitis.
  • While no deaths occurred, persistent deficits were noted in some pediatric encephalitis patients.

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