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Etiology of acute encephalitis in childhood in Slovenia
1University Medical Centre, Department of Infectious Diseases, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Insights
Central European tick-borne encephalitis virus was the most common cause of acute encephalitis in children. Herpes simplex virus was the leading cause of focal encephalitis in this pediatric cohort.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
Background:
- Acute encephalitis is a serious neurological condition in children.
- Identifying the specific cause is crucial for effective treatment and prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively analyze the etiologies of acute encephalitis in hospitalized children.
- To identify common and focal encephalitis-causing agents in a pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 170 children (1 month to 15 years) hospitalized between 1979 and 1991.
- Etiologic investigation including viral and bacterial identification.
- Analysis of clinical presentation, particularly focal neurologic signs.
Main Results:
- Etiology was confirmed or highly probable in 68% of cases.
- Central European tick-borne encephalitis virus (28.8%) was the most frequent agent.
- Herpes simplex virus was the most common cause (40.4%) in children with focal encephalitis.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of pediatric acute encephalitis cases remain etiologically undetermined.
- Viral agents, particularly Central European tick-borne encephalitis virus and herpes simplex virus, are major contributors.
- Focal encephalitis in children is frequently associated with herpes simplex virus.
Abstract:
The etiology of acute encephalitis was evaluated in a retrospective study of 170 children (98 boys and 72 girls) ages 1 month to 15 years, who were hospitalized during a 13-year period from 1979 to 1991. The etiology was confirmed or considered very probable in 68% of cases. The identified etiologic agents included Central European tick-borne encephalitis virus (28.8%), varicella-zoster virus (17.0%), herpes simplex (10.0%), rubella (2.9%), mumps (2.3%), measles virus, Chlamydia psittaci (1.1%) and some other agents found in individual cases. The etiology remained unknown in 54 children (31.7%). Forty-two patients had encephalitis with focal neurologic signs. The most common confirmed or presumptive infective agent in those cases was herpes simplex virus (40.4%), followed by rubella (7.1%), Central European tick-borne encephalitis virus (4.7%) and some other agents identified in individual cases. The etiology remained unknown in 15 (36%) children with focal encephalitis.