RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Encephalitis in Previously Healthy Children
JF Pediatrics in Review
JO Pediatr. Rev.
FD American Academy of Pediatrics
SP 68
OP 77
DO 10.1542/pir.2018-0175
VO 42
IS 2
A1 Fraley, Claire E.
A1 Pettersson, David R.
A1 Nolt, Dawn
YR 2021
UL http://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/content/42/2/68.abstract
AB Encephalitis is defined as altered mental status for more than 24 hours accompanied by 2 or more findings concerning for inflammation of the brain parenchyma: fever, seizures or other focal neurologic disorders, cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis, and abnormal neuroimaging and electroencephalographic findings. Herpes simplex virus causes the most severe form of virus-induced encephalitis; the early administration of acyclovir can improve the prognosis of this disease. The rising interest in autoimmune causes of encephalitis, most notably anti–N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, should prompt the clinician to consider immunomodulatory treatments, which may improve outcomes. A broad testing panel may be necessary to detect the etiologic agent; a few published pediatric cases suggest that infectious and autoimmune causes may occur concurrently in the same patient with encephalitis. More than 40% of children diagnosed as having encephalitis will not return to their previous level of neurologic function after resolution of their disease, although outcomes are highly variable depending on the etiologic agent.