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Comparison of tick-borne encephalitis between children and adults-analysis of 669 patients

Katarzyna Krawczuk1, Piotr Czupryna2, Sławomir Pancewicz2

  • 1Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland.

Journal of Neurovirology
|June 12, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) presents milder symptoms in children, primarily meningitis, while adults experience more severe neurological issues. Children generally show more favorable outcomes following TBE infection.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a significant neuroinfectious disease.
  • Understanding age-related differences in TBE course is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the clinical presentation and outcomes of TBE in pediatric and adult populations.
  • To identify age-specific differences in TBE symptomatology and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of medical records from 669 TBE patients.
  • Categorization into pediatric (Group I, n=68) and adult (Group II, n=601) cohorts.
  • Comparison of clinical symptoms, CSF analysis, and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Children exhibited milder TBE symptoms, predominantly meningitis (97%), versus adults with meningoencephalitis/meningoencephalomyelitis (49.26%).
  • Nausea and vomiting were more common in children; neurological manifestations were more frequent in adults.
  • Adults had higher CSF protein concentrations; corticosteroid use prolonged disease duration in children without affecting sequelae.
  • Pediatric patients demonstrated more favorable TBE outcomes compared to adults.

Conclusions:

  • Significant age-dependent variations exist in TBE manifestation and severity.
  • Children generally experience a less severe disease course and better outcomes than adults.
  • Further research into age-specific TBE pathogenesis and treatment strategies is warranted.
Keywords:
AdultsChildrenTBE

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