Jugulete Gh. 1, 2, Merișescu Mădălina 1, 2, Vasile Magdalena 2, Luminos Monica 1, 2
1 University of Medicine and Pharmacy” Carol Davila”, Bucharest
2 National Institute for Infectious Diseases”Prof. Dr. Matei Balș”, Bucharest
Abstract
Acute rotavirus infection is a health concern both nationally and worldwide because of the high prevalence of the illness, especially in children under the age of 5. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports annually a high number of cases, acute rotavirus infection being one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in infants. The real incidence of this illness is unknown in Romania mainly due to underreporting, as this condition is frequently found in pediatric and infectious diseases hospitals both as a community-acquired and nosocomial infection. Currently, because of the multitude of manifestations of rotavirus infection in children, many authors have described the concept of rotaviral disease. Frequently reported extra-intestinal manifestations include respiratory, hepatic, cutaneous, renal, and hematological. Neurological manifestations are increasingly reported in the specialty literature. In this present paper we present the case of a pediatric acute rotavirus infection with neurological involvement. An 8 year old child was admitted in the 9th Pediatric Department of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases „Prof. Dr. Matei Bals” with the diagnosis of acute rotavirus infection complicated with ataxia and aphasia. Diagnosis was established on epidemiological (2 siblings with same condition), clinical (fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gait impairment, aphasia) and laboratory criteria (rotavirus identification on rapid stool antigen test and CSF). Diagnosis was completed with EEG and cranio-cerebral MRI. Evolution was favorable under cortisone, diuretic, human immunoglobulins and symptomatic treatment, with gradual improvement and full recovery after 4 weeks from onset. Rotavirus infection can take shape in a multitude of clinical forms, from mild to severe and complicated. Although rare, neurological complications pose a high risk of sequelae and death in the absence of adequate treatment.