Features of viral encephalitis in children according to the data of Kyiv Municipal Children’s Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital in 2011–2016

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of 46 cases of children who were hospitalized in Kyiv Municipal Children’s Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital from 2011 to 2016 was carried out. The origin of encephalitis in children was analyzed depending on the age, and it was revealed that cytomegalovirus and the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) association with cytomegalovirus prevailed in the etiology of viral encephalitis in children of the first 3 years of life, 25 % each. In adolescents, the prevalence of EBV was 31 % and of human herpesvirus (HHV) type 6 — 31 %. In children aged 3–6 years, EBV prevailed in etiology — 30 %, in children aged 6–12 years — HHV type 6 and EBV, 27 % each. The clinical picture of encephalitis in adolescents was dominated by cerebral syndrome, and in children of the first 3 years of life — the general infection. Focal neurological symptoms were noted in patients of all age groups. In older children, the initial manifestations of the disease were: headache, malaise, nausea, vomiting. In children of the first three years of life — drowsiness, irritability and refusal to eat. The most frequent focal symptoms in children were aphasia, ataxia, paresis, paralysis, myoclonus.

Keywords

• viral encephalitis
• age
• children
• etiotropic therapy
• enterovirus
• varicella zoster virus
• Epstein-Barr virus
• cytomegalovirus
• herpes simplex virus type 1/2
• human herpesvirus type 6