Acute viral encephalitis in children.
Fifty-seven cases satisfying criteria of the diagnosis of acute viral encephalitis were studied. They were divided into two groups: Group 1 (presumed), 48 cases; Group 2 (postinfectious), nine cases. A possible association of viral aetiology was found in 26%. Viruses isolated were: influenza (3 cases), Coxsackie virus (2), adenovirus (2), mixed cytomegalovirus and adenovirus and herpes simplex viruses (1 case each). The mortality rate was 28%. Among the 41 survivors, 76% were completely normal and 24% had neurological sequelae with focal neurological deficit in 29%; personality changes in 6%; moderate mental retardation in 2%; severe mental retardation in 4%; hyperactivity in 4% and epilepsy in 4%. The best predictors to unfavourable outcome were the rapid rate of deterioration in conscious level after admission and the age of the patients.
Department of Paediatrics, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital.
V
V
Wong
C Y
CY
Yeung
D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D004668:Encephalitis Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed