Functional status of children with encephalitis in an inpatient rehabilitation setting: a case series.
BACKGROUND
Patterns and predictors of recovery from encephalitis are poorly understood.


METHODS
This study examined functional status and reviewed charts of all children who presented to a pediatric inpatient rehabilitation facility with encephalitis between 1996 and 2010. Functional status at admission and discharge from inpatient rehabilitation was evaluated using the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) Self-care, Mobility, Cognitive, and Total Developmental Functional Quotient scores (DFQ, % of age-appropriate function). Charts were reviewed to characterize key clinical features and findings.


RESULTS
Of the 13 children identified, the mean age was 9 years (range 5-16) with 54% males. Mean WeeFIM Total DFQ at admission was 37 (range: 15-90) and at discharge was 64 (range: 16-96). Average change in WeeFIM Total DFQ from admission to discharge was 26.7 (range 0-55, p < 0.001). WeeFIM domain scores improved between admission and discharge (Self-Care: p < 0.001, Cognition: p < 0.01, Mobility: p < 0.001). Eleven children displayed significant impairments in functional skills, defined as DFQ of < or =85, at discharge. Key clinical features and findings were diverse and not related to functional outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that significant functional improvement in children with encephalitis occurs during inpatient rehabilitation. Further research is necessary to identify predictors of outcome in children with encephalitis.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Yogita I
YI
Tailor
Stacy J
SJ
Suskauer
Leigh N
LN
Sepeta
Joshua B
JB
Ewen
Ellen J
EJ
Dematt
Melissa K
MK
Trovato
Cynthia F
CF
Salorio
Beth S
BS
Slomine
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Encephalitis; children and adolescents; functional independence measure; outcome; rehabilitation