I
wonder whether we are ever tested for Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE)
virus? or viruses? Does anyone know? In this paper children with TBE
were more ill and for longer than kids who'd had Lyme and been treated
for it.
Their symptoms are so like those of children with ME...
One-year follow-up of tick-borne central nervous system
infections in childhood
Engman ML, Lindstrom K, Sallamba M, Hertz C, Sundberg B,
Hansson ME, Lindquist L, Orvell C, Lidefelt KJ, Sundin M.
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, June 2012, Volume 31,
Issue 6, p 570-574.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/
Abstract
Background
Neurologic sequelae, including cognitive deficits, after
childhood tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and neuroborreliosis
(NB) are not well-characterized. These infections are among
the most common affecting the central nervous system in
children and can be difficult to diagnose due to vague
symptomatology. The aim of this study was to investigate
long-term (>1 year) consequences of pediatric TBE and NB as
well as the value of markers for brain damage and genetic
susceptibility.
Methods
From a previous prospective study, children diagnosed with
TBE (n = 8) and NB (n = 12) as well as pediatric controls (n
= 15) were followed up by clinical examination,
semistructured interview and screening for cognitive
dysfunction by the Five-to-Fifteen Questionnaire. The
follow-up also included detection of serum autoantibodies
against the neural proteins; glial fibrillary acidic protein
and myelin basic protein, as well as genotyping of a 32
basepair deletion in the chemokine receptor type 5 gene.
Results
Children diagnosed with TBE displayed significantly more
long-term subjective complaints (ie, fatigue, headache and
irritability) compared with the NB and control groups.
Significantly higher frequency of disabilities was also
detected by the Five-to-Fifteen Questionnaire in the TBE
group. Both TBE and NB cause consequences (eg, prolonged
convalescence, worries and financial loss) for the families.
Markers for genetic susceptibility and brain damage had no
prognostic values in this cohort.
Conclusions
Pediatric TBE results in long-lasting residual symptoms and
neurologic deficits affecting daily life. Vigilance for
TBE-related morbidity among pediatricians and long-term
clinical follow-up with assessment of cognitive dysfunctions
and appropriate interventions seems reasonable for these
children.
Hansson ME, Lindquist L, Orvell C, Lidefelt KJ, Sundin M.
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, June 2012, Volume 31,
Issue 6, p 570-574.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/
Abstract
Background
Neurologic sequelae, including cognitive deficits, after
childhood tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and neuroborreliosis
(NB) are not well-characterized. These infections are among
the most common affecting the central nervous system in
children and can be difficult to diagnose due to vague
symptomatology. The aim of this study was to investigate
long-term (>1 year) consequences of pediatric TBE and NB as
well as the value of markers for brain damage and genetic
susceptibility.
Methods
From a previous prospective study, children diagnosed with
TBE (n = 8) and NB (n = 12) as well as pediatric controls (n
= 15) were followed up by clinical examination,
semistructured interview and screening for cognitive
dysfunction by the Five-to-Fifteen Questionnaire. The
follow-up also included detection of serum autoantibodies
against the neural proteins; glial fibrillary acidic protein
and myelin basic protein, as well as genotyping of a 32
basepair deletion in the chemokine receptor type 5 gene.
Results
Children diagnosed with TBE displayed significantly more
long-term subjective complaints (ie, fatigue, headache and
irritability) compared with the NB and control groups.
Significantly higher frequency of disabilities was also
detected by the Five-to-Fifteen Questionnaire in the TBE
group. Both TBE and NB cause consequences (eg, prolonged
convalescence, worries and financial loss) for the families.
Markers for genetic susceptibility and brain damage had no
prognostic values in this cohort.
Conclusions
Pediatric TBE results in long-lasting residual symptoms and
neurologic deficits affecting daily life. Vigilance for
TBE-related morbidity among pediatricians and long-term
clinical follow-up with assessment of cognitive dysfunctions
and appropriate interventions seems reasonable for these
children.
