title: [Acute viral meningitis and encephalitis in children].
abstract: Both viral meningitis and encephalitis in infants and children give clinical features of various severity. The mechanism of viral encephalitis varies from CNS cellular destruction, immune or oedematous process. The clinical and EEG features of herpes encephalitis in the child are usually well recognizable. CSF characteristics are important for differential diagnosis. Management therapy includes anti-oedema treatment, prevention or cure of seizures. Passive immunisation against rubella, rubeola and measles is the best prevention therapy for post-infectious encephalitis. Herpes encephalitis prognosis has improved with acyclovir therapy. In France, mortality due to post-infectious encephalitis is estimated below 5% and sequellae below 20%.
authors.affiliation: Département de pédiatrie et INSERM U 56, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tardieu
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000212:Acyclovir
vernacular_title: Méningites et encéphalites virales aiguës de l'enfant.