title: Epidemiology, outcomes and predictors of recovery in childhood encephalitis: a hospital-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pediatric encephalitis is a devastating diagnosis with little guidance regarding prognostic indicators early in the hospitalization.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with encephalitis referred to the California Encephalitis Project from Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland from 1998 to 2010. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and neuroimaging data were collected by California Encephalitis Project and chart review. Outcomes were classified into "recovery" or "incomplete recovery" and evaluated at discharge and other times (7-10 days postadmission, 3 and 12 months postdischarge). Using logistic regression, predictors associated with recovery were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 190 patients with outcomes available at discharge, 128 patients (67.4%) recovered, whereas 62 (32.6%) had an incomplete recovery, including 13 deaths (6.8%). Variables predictive of outcomes at discharge in the bivariate and multivariable analyses included Asian/Pacific Islander race, neuroimaging results and Glasgow Coma Score. Asian/Pacific Islander patients were less likely to recover than patients of other races (adjusted odds ratio = 0.43, P = 0.046). Patients with normal neuroimaging studies were more likely to recover than patients with abnormal neuroimaging (adjusted odds ratio = 2.54, P = 0.008). Patients with Glasgow Coma Score ≥7 were more likely to recover than patients with Glasgow Coma Score <7 (adjusted odds ratio = 5.82, P < 0.001). In a multivariable analysis, similar statistically significant findings were noted at all other analyzed times. Results were similar using a different population for validation, however, due to the small number of Asian/Pacific Islander patients; this finding could not be validated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is unique in identification of race/ethnicity as an independent predictor of pediatric encephalitis outcomes. Additional variables may be useful ancillary tools in determining prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland, Oakland, CA 94609, USA. dubray.kara@gmail.com
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: DuBray
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anglemyer
authors.forename: A Desiree
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: LaBeaud
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flori
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.forename: Kara San
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Joaquin
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Messenger
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Preas
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sheriff
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Glaser
mesh_terms: D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome