Tick-borne encephalitis in children: an update on epidemiology and diagnosis

Tick-borne encephalitis is an infection of the CNS caused by a tick-borne encephalitis virus transmitted by ticks. It is more common in adults than in children. During the last 30 years, the incidence of the disease increased continuously in almost all endemic European countries except Austria. Many factors are responsible for the increased incidence. However, in Austria, the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis decreased dramatically since the introduction of a well-organized vaccination campaign against tick-borne encephalitis. The diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis is based on clinical criteria and laboratory confirmation of infection. Other tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme borreliosis and human granulocytic anaplasmosis, should be considered in children with tick-borne encephalitis since endemic areas for all three diseases overlap.