1 - Unidade de Desenvolvimento, Área de Pediatria, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisboa
2 - Unidade de Infecciologia, Área de Pediatria, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisboa
3 - Unidade de Neuropediatria, Área de Pediatria, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisboa
- 38th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases – publicação sobre a forma de e-poster.
Background: Encephalitis in paediatric age might impair neurodevelopment with variable severity. If there are any acute predictors of neurodevelopment sequelae is not well established. We aimed to characterize the neurodevelopment outcomes of encephalitis patients to optimize follow-up and early intervention.
Methods: Retrospective study including patients (aged 0-18 years) at hospital admission for infectious encephalitis between January 2013 and December 2018 and follow-up until November 2019. Neurodevelopment accessed through Schedule of Growing Skills II.
Results: Eighty patients were considered with median age three years old. Encephalitis aetiology was Varicella zoster (8), influenza A virus (11), EBV (6), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (3), HVS2 (2), HV6 (2), others (4). 21 (26%) admitted to the intensive care unit. Neurodevelopment was assessed in 79% (56). Disability presented in 31/56 (55%), compromising learning (11), communication (10), intellectual (9), motor (7), cerebral palsy (4), hyperactivity and attention deficit (4), behaviour (2), auditive (1), visual (1). Intervention was suggested in 22/31 (71%). Disability was more frequent if age 12- 24months (p 0.03), temporal slowed EEG (p 0.02) and leucocytes in LCR (p 0.03).
Conclusions: Neurodevelopment impairment is not predictable during the acute course of the disease, even though it was more frequent if infection was during the second year of life, in patients with temporal activity slowing, and moderate raise in LCR lymphocytes. All efforts should be done to adequately follow up and early support these patients so the effects of encephalitis can be minimised.
Palavras Chave: Acute infectious encephalitis, neurodevelopment