Comparison of tick-borne encephalitis between children and adults-analysis of 669 patients

Katarzyna Krawczuk; Piotr Czupryna; Sławomir Pancewicz; Elżbieta Ołdak; Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska

doi:10.1007/s13365-020-00856-x

Comparison of tick-borne encephalitis between children and adults-analysis of 669 patients

J Neurovirol. 2020 Aug;26(4):565-571. doi: 10.1007/s13365-020-00856-x. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

Authors

Katarzyna Krawczuk¹, Piotr Czupryna², Sławomir Pancewicz², Elżbieta Ołdak¹, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland.
² Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University in Bialystok, Żurawia 14, 15-540, Białystok, Poland.
³ Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University in Bialystok, Żurawia 14, 15-540, Białystok, Poland. annamoniuszko@op.pl.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to compare the course of TBE in children and adults. A retrospective analysis of the medical records of 669 patients was performed. The patients were categorized into 2 groups: Group I with 68 children and group II with 601 adults. TBE symptoms in children were milder compared with adults, with meningitis in 97% of cases. In adults, meningoencephalitis and meningoencephalomyelitis made up 49.26% of cases. Nausea and vomiting are more frequent in children, while neurological manifestations are more frequent in adults. There were no differences in CSF pleocytosis at the onset of disease in both groups, while CSF protein concentration was higher in adults. Children treated with corticosteroids over 7 days had higher checkup pleocytosis than pleocytosis at the onset of disease compared with adults. Corticosteroid use prolongs the disease duration but does not influence the development of TBE sequelae. Children had more favourable outcomes than adult patients.

Keywords: Adults; Children; TBE.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Analgesics / therapeutic use
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
Child
Child, Preschool
Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / pathogenicity*
Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / physiology
Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / diagnosis
Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / drug therapy
Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / pathology*
Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / virology
Encephalitis, Viral / diagnosis
Encephalitis, Viral / drug therapy
Encephalitis, Viral / pathology*
Encephalitis, Viral / virology
Female
Humans
Leukocytosis / diagnosis
Leukocytosis / drug therapy
Leukocytosis / pathology*
Leukocytosis / virology
Male
Mannitol / therapeutic use
Meningitis, Viral / diagnosis
Meningitis, Viral / drug therapy
Meningitis, Viral / pathology*
Meningitis, Viral / virology
Meningoencephalitis / diagnosis
Meningoencephalitis / drug therapy
Meningoencephalitis / pathology*
Meningoencephalitis / virology
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Severity of Illness Index
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Analgesics
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Mannitol
Dexamethasone