Viral Central Nervous System Infections in Children

Viral central nervous system infections in newborns and infants usually begin with fever. Newborns may have no other symptoms and may initially not otherwise appear ill. Infants older than a month or so typically become irritable and fussy and refuse to eat. Vomiting is common. Sometimes the soft spot on top of a newborn's head (fontanelle) bulges when the newborn is upright, indicating an increase in pressure on the brain. Because irritation of the meninges is worsened by movement, an infant with meningitis may cry more, rather than calm down, when picked up and rocked. Some infants develop a strange, high-pitched cry. Infants with encephalitis often have seizures Seizure Disorders In seizure disorders, the brain's electrical activity is periodically disturbed, resulting in some degree of temporary brain dysfunction. Many people have unusual sensations just before a seizure... read more or other abnormal movements. Infants with severe encephalitis may become lethargic and comatose and then die.

An infection with herpes simplex virus, which is often concentrated in only one part of the brain, may lead to seizures or weakness appearing in only one part of the body. An infant with herpes simplex virus encephalitis may also have a rash on the skin, in the eyes, or in the mouth. The rash consists of red spots with fluid-filled blisters that crust over or scab before healing (see Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infection in Newborns Symptoms Herpes simplex virus infection usually causes only annoying, recurring blisters in healthy adults but can cause severe infection in newborns. Newborns may become infected at birth or after birth... read more ).

Postinfectious encephalomyelitis may cause many neurologic problems, depending on the part of the brain that is damaged. Children may have weakness of an arm or leg, vision or hearing loss, difficulty walking, a change in behavior, intellectual disability, or recurring seizures. Some of these symptoms are noticed right away. Other symptoms may not be noticed until later, for example when the child has routine tests of hearing, vision, and/or intelligence. Often the symptoms resolve with time, but occasionally they are permanent.

Doctors are concerned about the possibility of meningitis or encephalitis in every newborn who has a fever, as well as in older infants and children who have fever and are irritable or otherwise not acting normally. To make the diagnosis of meningitis or the diagnosis of encephalitis, doctors do a spinal tap Spinal Tap Diagnostic procedures may be needed to confirm a diagnosis suggested by the medical history and neurologic examination. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a simple, painless procedure in which... read more (lumbar puncture) to obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF, the liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) for laboratory analysis. In viral infections, the number of white blood cells is increased in the CSF, but no bacteria are seen. Immunologic tests that detect antibodies against viruses in samples of CSF may be done, but these tests usually take days to complete. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Genetic diagnostic technologies are scientific methods that are used to understand and evaluate an organism's genes. (See also Genes and Chromosomes.) Genes are segments of deoxyribonucleic... read more techniques are available to more quickly identify herpesviruses and enteroviruses in the CSF.

A test of brain waves (electroencephalography Electroencephalography Diagnostic procedures may be needed to confirm a diagnosis suggested by the medical history and neurologic examination. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a simple, painless procedure in which... read more ) can be used to help diagnose encephalitis caused by herpesvirus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a strong magnetic field and very high frequency radio waves are used to produce highly detailed images. MRI does not use x-rays and is usually very safe... read more and computed tomography (CT) Computed Tomography (CT) In computed tomography (CT), which used to be called computed axial tomography (CAT), an x-ray source and x-ray detector rotate around a person. In modern scanners, the x-ray detector usually... read more may help confirm the diagnosis especially in cases of postinfectious encephalomyelitis.

Prognosis varies greatly with the type of infection. Many types of viral meningitis and encephalitis are mild, and the child recovers quickly and completely. Other types are severe.

Brain infection with herpes simplex virus is particularly grave. Without treatment, about 50% of newborns with herpes simplex infection of the brain die, and about two thirds of those who survive have severe brain damage. Even with treatment, about 25% die and up to half of the survivors have brain damage. If the untreated herpes infection involves other parts of the body as well as the brain, mortality is as high as 85%.

Most children require only supportive care. That is, they need to be kept warm and given plenty of fluids and drugs to treat any fever or seizures. Antiviral drugs Antiviral drugs A virus is composed of nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA, surrounded by a protein coat. It requires a living cell in which to multiply. A viral infection can lead to a spectrum of symptoms from... read more are not effective for most central nervous system infections. However, infections caused by herpes simplex virus can be treated with acyclovir given by vein.

Postinfectious encephalomyelitis may be treated with corticosteroids or other drugs that lessen the immune response that causes the neurologic damage.