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05:51
Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain
Published on: July 24, 2016
Advances in pediatric neurovirology
1Department of Neurosciences and Pediatrics, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive Box 0935, San Diego, CA 92093, USA. jrcrawford@ucsd.edu
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
|April 29, 2010
Summary
Pediatric viral central nervous system (CNS) infections can cause severe brain damage. Advanced diagnostics and therapies are improving the outlook for children with these neurovirologic diseases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neurovirology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Viral infections pose significant risks to the pediatric central nervous system (CNS), leading to conditions like encephalopathy, encephalitis, and epilepsy.
- These infections can have devastating effects on brain development in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current landscape of pediatric neurovirologic diseases.
- To highlight advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for CNS viral infections in children.
Main Methods:
- Review of evolving diagnostic techniques, including real-time and microarray-based PCR, replacing older methods like biopsy and viral culture.
- Discussion of progress in neuroimaging for early CNS injury detection.
- Overview of current and developing therapeutic approaches, including antiviral immunotherapies.
Main Results:
- Newer PCR technologies offer enhanced sensitivity and specificity for viral detection in CNS infections.
- Neuroimaging aids in earlier identification of brain injury, though not always pinpointing the specific viral cause.
- Intravenous acyclovir remains a primary treatment, with ongoing research into novel immunotherapies.
Conclusions:
- The diagnosis and management of pediatric CNS viral infections are rapidly advancing.
- Novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies hold promise for improved outcomes in affected children.
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