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Published on: October 11, 2022
Profile of Neurological Manifestations in Children Presenting with Rickettsial Disease
S B Chiranth1, K R Ashwini1, Vykuntraju K Gowda2
1Department of Pediatric Medicine, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Bangalore, Karnataka.
Insights
Rickettsial disease in children frequently causes neurological issues like seizures and altered consciousness. Prompt diagnosis of these neurological manifestations is key for effective treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Rickettsial infections can present with diverse neurological symptoms in children.
- Understanding these manifestations is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the neurological manifestations of rickettsial disease in pediatric patients.
- To identify common neurological symptoms and associated findings.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of hospital records from January to December 2020 was conducted.
- Data from 178 children diagnosed with rickettsial disease were analyzed.
- Inclusion criteria included clinical and serological confirmation of rickettsial infection.
Main Results:
- Neurological involvement was observed in 54.3% of pediatric rickettsial disease cases.
- Common manifestations included convulsions (59%), altered sensorium (56%), and headache (44%).
- Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed pleocytosis and elevated protein levels in affected children. Neuroimaging showed cerebral edema, cerebellar hyperintensities, and infarcts.
Conclusions:
- Rickettsial infections are a significant cause of neurological manifestations in children.
- Early identification of these neurological signs aids in prompt and specific treatment initiation.
Objective:
To study the profile of neurological manifestation of rickettsial disease in children.
Methods:
Review of hospital records was done in a tertiary care hospital for the period from January to December, 2020. Data of all the children fulfilling the inclusion criteria i.e., clinical criteria and serology were retrieved from the hospital records.
Results:
Of the total 7974 children admitted over this period, 178 were diagnosed with rickettsial disease wherein 54 (33.3%) had neurological involvement. Convulsions (59%), altered sensorium (56%), headache (44%), meningeal signs (37%), ataxia, (11%), lateral rectus palsy (7.5%) and stroke (7.5%) were the major neurological manifestations. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis done in 30 (55%) children showed pleocytosis [median (IQR) cells 15 (3.75, 50)] with lymphocyte predominance [median (IQR) lymphocytes 11.5 (3, 38.75)] and elevated proteins [median IQR 41.5 (29.75,61)]. Neuroimaging abnormalities noticed were cerebral edema (n=7), cerebellar hyperintensities (n=5), basal ganglia infarcts (n=2) and hippocampal hyperintensities (n=1).
Conclusion:
Early recognition of rickettsial infection as a cause of neurological manifestation would facilitate early specific management.
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