Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Induction and Clinical Scoring of Chronic-Relapsing Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
26:48

Induction and Clinical Scoring of Chronic-Relapsing Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Published on: July 4, 2007

18.1K

Neurocognitive outcome in children and adolescents following infectious encephalitis

Kristian Bergman1, Åsa Fowler2, Sofia Ygberg3

  • 1Neuropediatric Unit, Department of Women´s and Children´s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Child Neuropsychology : a Journal on Normal and Abnormal Development in Childhood and Adolescence
|November 16, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Childhood infectious encephalitis can lead to lasting neurocognitive deficits, affecting attention, memory, and executive functions in survivors. Comprehensive assessments are crucial for identifying children needing support.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Neuroscience
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Infectious encephalitis in children is rare but often results in poor outcomes for survivors.
  • Long-term neurocognitive consequences require thorough investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively describe long-term neurocognitive outcomes in children following infectious encephalitis.
  • To identify specific areas of cognitive vulnerability and behavioral-emotional symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 59 children hospitalized for infectious encephalitis in Sweden (2011-2016).
  • Neurocognitive assessments included intellectual functioning, attention, working memory, and executive functions.
  • Standardized questionnaires evaluated caregiver-reported executive functioning and behavioral-emotional symptoms.

Main Results:

  • Significant variability in neurocognitive outcomes and behavioral-emotional symptoms observed.
  • Auditory attention, working memory, and processing speed were significantly lower than standardized means.
  • Executive functions, sustained attention, and self-control were identified as areas of vulnerability.

Conclusions:

  • Children surviving infectious encephalitis often experience persistent neurocognitive impairments.
  • Executive functions and attention are key areas affected, necessitating targeted interventions.
  • Comprehensive neurocognitive evaluations are essential for managing children post-encephalitis.

Keywords:
Cognitive dysfunctioncomplicationfollow-upprospectiveviral encephalitis

More Related Videos

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain05:51

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain

Published on: July 24, 2016

19.5K
A Pediatric Concussion Model in Mice: Closed Head Injury with Long-Term Disorders (CHILD)07:01

A Pediatric Concussion Model in Mice: Closed Head Injury with Long-Term Disorders (CHILD)

Published on: February 7, 2025

411

Related Concept Videos

Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

Arboviral Encephalitis

Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...