Zdravniški Vestnik (Jul 2004)

TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS IN CHILDHOOD – CONSENSUS 2004

  • Ursula Kunze,
  • Loreta Asokliene,
  • Tagir Bektimirov,
  • Andreas Busse,
  • Vaclav Chmelik,
  • Franz X.Heinz,
  • Volker Hingst,
  • Ferenc Kadar,
  • Reinhard Kaiser,
  • Peter Kimmig,
  • Alenka Kraigher,
  • Thomas Krech,
  • Lars Linguist,
  • Irina Lucenko,
  • Vibeke Rosenfeldt,
  • Maurizio Ruscio,
  • Birger Sandell,
  • Hans Salzer,
  • Franc Strle,
  • Jochen Suss,
  • Kai Zilmer,
  • Ingomar Mutz

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 73, no. 7-8

Abstract

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Tick-borne Encephalitis (TBE) is a communicable disease caused by a flavi-virus, ticks being the main vectors. The nervous system is affected, four clinical features of different severity are observed: meningitis, meningoencephalitis, meningoencephalomyelitis, meningoradiculoneuritis. TBE is a preventable disease, which is rapidly becoming a growing public health problem in Europe. So far no causal treatment is possible but an efficient, safe vaccination is available.During the 6th meeting of the International Scientific Working Group on TBE with the main conference issue »Tick-borne encephalitis in childhood“ an international consensus was achieved. In countries where TBE is endemic – and not prevented by immunization – both children and adults are affected. The disease in children is generally milder, although severe illness may occur and even lead to permanent impairment of the quality of life due to neuropsychological sequelae.Therefore immunization should be offered to all children living in or traveling to endemic areas.

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