The impact of viral infections on childhood central nervous system infections

• Published in: Journal of clinical virology 2021-07, Vol.140, p.104853-104853, Article 104853
• Main Authors: Marinho, Paula Eillanny Silva, Costa, Galileu Barbosa, Crispim, Ana Paula Correia, Alvarenga, Pedro Paulo Martins, Candiani, Talitah Michel Sanchez, Alvarenga, Alice Martins, Bechler, Isabela Machado, Araujo, Sara Tavares, Guedes, Isabela, Batista, Aline Karla de Araújo, Bentes, Aline Almeida, de Oliveira, Danilo Bretas, Kroon, Erna Geessien
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Central Nervous System Infections - diagnosis; Central Nervous System Infections - epidemiology; Central Nervous System Viral Diseases - diagnosis; Central Nervous System Viral Diseases - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; CNS infections; Dengue virus; Enterovirus; Humans; Infant; Meningitis, Viral - diagnosis; Meningitis, Viral - epidemiology; Viral meningitis; Virus Diseases - diagnosis; Virus Diseases - epidemiology; Yellow fever virus; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
• ISSN: 1386-6532; 1873-5967
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2021.104853

•Flaviviruses are associated with neurological manifestations in children.•Dengue virus was the most frequent flavivirus detected in cerebrospinal fluid.•Yellow fever virus in cerebrospinal fluid was associated with more frequent the post-hospitalization sequelae. Background. Viruses are a common cause of central nervous system (CNS) infections. However, studies of CNS viral pathogens in pediatric patients are poorly explored because viral infections are often erroneously diagnosed as bacterial infections. Methods. 299 CNS samples were collected from pediatric patients aged from one month to 14 years old. A total of 140 viral meningitis cases that met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. In 38 of the 140 cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) samples (27.1%), conventional and real-time PCR were used to identify viruses commonly associated with CNS infections. Results. Among them, 23 patients (16.5%) tested positive for flaviviruses such as dengue, Zika, and yellow fever virus, eight patients (5.7%) were positive for enterovirus (ENTV), and six patients (4.3%) were positive for human herpesvirus 1/2. We also identified one case of dengue virus and ENTV co-infection. Conclusions. A correlation between clinical symptoms and laboratory findings for the viruses was identified. Our study also reinforces the importance of including viruses in the laboratory diagnosis of CNS infections especially flaviviruses, which assists public health authorities in implementing early interventions.