title: Encephalitis in children.
abstract: Encephalitis is an uncommon but potentially devastating neurological syndrome with different aetiologies including direct central nervous system infection with different agents (most commonly viral) and those mediated by the immune system. Whilst there have been several recent publications and guidelines on the management of bacterial central nervous system infections in adults and children, viral infections have been relatively neglected. Guidelines have been published for adults with encephalitis (www.liv.ac.uk/braininfections) but none exist for children. For these reasons, we have reviewed the literature on encephalitis and have formulated a suggested management strategy for children with suspected, clinically diagnosed and proven encephalitis. We have excluded neonates, as encephalitis in this age group has different clinical features and is beyond the scope of this review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Level 2 Children's Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK. clara.thompson@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kneen
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riordan
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pollard
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents