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Pediatric tick-borne infections of the central nervous system in an endemic region of Sweden: a prospective evaluation of clinical manifestations

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Abstract

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and neuroborreliosis (NB) are well-known central nervous system (CNS) infections in children. Childhood tick-borne CNS infections are generally described as mild conditions. However, this view has recently been challenged, and the natural course, including potential sequelae, has been debated. If the diseases present with nonspecific symptoms and signs, some children may elude diagnosis. This study estimates the incidence of symptomatic tick-borne CNS infections in children under medical care and describes the spectrum of manifestations. One hundred twenty-four children with neurologic symptoms attending the Pediatric Emergency Department were included prospectively. Anti-TBE virus and anti-Borrelia serology results were analyzed together with inflammatory parameters in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Nearly one fourth of the children with neurologic symptoms were diagnosed with a tick-borne CNS infection (TBE, n = 10 [8%] and NB, n = 21 [16.8%]). In general, these children displayed an indistinct medical history and presented with nonspecific signs such as malaise/fatigue and headache. Diagnosis was based on analysis of acute and convalescent sera. Blood inflammatory parameters were nonspecific and did not contribute to the diagnostics. Conclusion: Pediatric tick-borne CNS infections are unexpectedly common and should be considered in children with unspecific and unexplained acute CNS-related symptoms.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported with unrestricted grants by Karolinska Institutet, the Stockholm County Council, and the Swedish Association of Persons with Neurological Disabilities.

Competing interests

None to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden

    Mikael Sundin, Magnus E. A. Hansson, Mona-Lisa Engman, Katarina Wide & Karl-Johan Lidefelt

  2. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden

    Lars Lindquist

  3. Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden

    Mikael Sundin, Magnus E. A. Hansson, Mona-Lisa Engman, Katarina Wide & Karl-Johan Lidefelt

  4. Virology Laboratory, Karolinska University Laboratory, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden

    Claes Örvell

  5. Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden

    Lars Lindquist

Authors
  1. Mikael Sundin
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  2. Magnus E. A. Hansson
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  3. Mona-Lisa Engman
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  4. Claes Örvell
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  5. Lars Lindquist
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  6. Katarina Wide
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  7. Karl-Johan Lidefelt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mikael Sundin.

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Sundin, M., Hansson, M.E.A., Engman, ML. et al. Pediatric tick-borne infections of the central nervous system in an endemic region of Sweden: a prospective evaluation of clinical manifestations. Eur J Pediatr 171, 347–352 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-011-1542-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-011-1542-2

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