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Outcome of children with acute encephalitis and refractory status epilepticus

Jun Sasaki1, Madhurandhar Chegondi2, Andre Raszynski3

  • 1Division of Critical Care Medicine, Miami Children's Hospital, Miami, FL, USA junsasaki41@gmail.com.

Journal of Child Neurology
|January 14, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Acute encephalitis in children is a serious condition. Refractory status epilepticus at presentation indicates a poorer neurological outcome and longer intensive care unit stays for pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Acute encephalitis is a critical neurological emergency in children.
  • Limited data exists on the outcomes of pediatric acute encephalitis in the U.S.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of acute encephalitis in children.
  • To identify factors associated with poor neurological outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit between 2006 and 2011.
  • Analysis of presenting symptoms, treatment, and neurological outcomes using the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category score.

Main Results:

  • Fever, altered mental status, and seizures were common presenting symptoms in 41 pediatric patients.
  • Eight patients (19.5%) with refractory status epilepticus experienced significantly longer intensive care unit stays (46 vs. 4 days).
  • Refractory status epilepticus was associated with a significantly worse neurological outcome (OR 20.38).

Conclusions:

  • All children in the study survived to hospital discharge.
  • Pediatric acute encephalitis patients presenting with refractory status epilepticus have poorer neurological outcomes.
  • Refractory status epilepticus necessitates longer pediatric intensive care unit stays.

Keywords:
childrenencephalitisoutcomestatus epilepticus

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