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Acute viral encephalitis in children
Author(s) -
WONG V.,
YEUNG C. Y.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1987.tb00286.x
Subject(s) - medicine , etiology , encephalitis , cytomegalovirus , viral encephalitis , pediatrics , epilepsy , herpes simplex virus , virus , virology , viral disease , herpesviridae , psychiatry
Fifty‐seven cases satisfying criteria of the diagnosis of acute viral encephalitis were studied. They were divided into two groups: Group 1 (presumed), 48 eases; 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.