Neurological Manifestations and Experience with IV Immunoglobulin in Children with Enterovirus 71 Infections / 대한소아신경학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The objective of the study was to report the neurological manifestations and response to high-dose immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in children with enterovirus 71 (EV 71) infections. METHODS: Eleven patients who had the primary clinical marker for enteroviral infection-herpangina or hand-foot-mouth-disease (HFMD) followed by acute neurological manifestations were admitted to Ajou University Hospital from June to September, 2009. All patients were positive for enterovirus (EV) as indicated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Among them, EV 71 was confirmed by semi-nested PCR in five patients. All patients received IVIG soon after admission. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients who were EV 71 positive was 2.5 years (range, 4 months to 5.3 years). Five neurological complications associated with EV 71 infection were identified meningoencephalitis (3 patients); acute cerebellar ataxia (1 pationt); and complex febrile seizure in another patient. Three patients (60%) had HFMD, and two(40%) had herpangina. None of the patients had neurological sequelae at follow-up. CONCLUSION: EV 71 infection should be suspected in young children with epidemic HFMD or herpangina complicated by a variety of neurological manifestations. We have reported the response to high dose IVIG therapy in children with EV 71 infection.