Epidemiological Profile of Acute Viral Encephalitis in a Sample of Egyptian Children

INTRODUCTION Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is a considerable public health problem. AIM This study was designed to describe the aetiology, demographic features, clinical picture, short-term outcome and risk factors of mortality of children with viral encephalitis in Egyptian children. METHODS PCR detection of viruses in the CSF of pediatric patients admitted to the pediatric unit or ICU Cairo University Pediatric hospital presenting with encephalitis syndrome. RESULTS Of the 96 patients included in the study, viral etiological agents were detected in 20 cases (20.8%), while 76 patients (79.2%) had no definite viral aetiology. The most abundant virus detected was Enterovirus (EV) in fourteen (14.5%), two (2.1%) were positive for human herpes simplex virus 6 (HSV-6), one (1.0%), human herpes simplex virus1 (HSV-1), one (1.0%) Epstein Barr virus (EBV), one (1.0%), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and one (1.0%) with varicella-zoster virus (VZV). On the short term outcome, 22 (22.9) patients died, and 74 (77.1%) survived. Severity outcome among survival was vegetative in three cases (4%) severe in 9 (12.16%), moderate in 14 (18.9%), mild in 29 (39.2%) and full recovery in 19 (25.6%). Mortality risk factors for younger age, the presence of apnea, the need for mechanical ventilation and the presence of abnormal CT findings were all significantly associated with fatal outcome (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Enterovirus was the most common cause of encephalitis among Egyptian children. Mortality was correlated with younger age and disease severity at admission. Sequelae were high among infected children.