Etiologia das Meningoencefalites Viroticas: prevalência de casos em crianças internadas no Centro Geral de Pediatria 2004 a 2005

Abstract

Objective: To identify the prevalence of mainly virus that causes infection of the CNS in children hospitalized in Infectious Deseases Center in Minas Gerais’s State between March of 2004 and September of 2005. Methods: 107 children between zero and 12 years old were included in the study. Liquoric samples were analysed in Ficruz (RJ) and viral isolation were done through Polymerase Chain Reation test (PCR) and cells culture. Some liquoric samples were also send to a reference lab in Belo Horizonte City for PCR test. In 17 children (16%) the culture and PCR test were positives for Enterovírus: 2 (1.9%) Echovírus type 30; 13 (12,1%) Echovírus type 6, in one (0.9%) Echovirus type 7 and in one, Coxsackievírus A( 0.9%). The main clinical manifestations of these patients were fever (68,8%), headache (81,3%), vomiting (100%) and nuchal rigidity (59%). In 15 patients (14%), PCR test was positive for Herpes Virus, and type 1 were isolated in 60% of these patients. In these group the presenting symptoms were: fever (100%), malaise (53,3%), vomiting (67%), drowsiness (40%), seizures (53,3%) and altered level of consciousness (66,6%).Four patients (26,7%) left hospital in the first 72 hours after admission and did not use venous antiviral therapy. Conclusions: The identification of the CNS’s viruses through PCR test should be realized routinely because it makes possiblible an especific intervention, avoiding the unecessary use of antibiotics, identifying atypical cases and permiting a interruption of the Aciclovir when a herpetic etiology were not defined, preserving the sensibility to this medication.