Neuroinfections in children: Tendencies and prospects

Abstract

The topical article gives the results of the long-term experience of the Research Institute of Children’s Infections, Federal Biomedical Agency of Russia, and the Department of Neuroinfections and Organic Pathology of the Nervous System in diagnosing and managing children with infectious diseases of the nervous system. It reflects the epidemiological and clinical aspects of bacterial purulent meningitides, meningococcal infection, serous meningitides, encephalitides, neuropathies, and myelitides in children. There is an etiological view of neuroinfections. The specific features of infections transmitted by Ixodid ticks are specified. Some aspects of the course of Ixodid tick-borne borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis and the rate and pattern of chronic forms of the disease are set forth. The authors have reflected their experience in managing patients with neuroinfections, the role and place of cytokine therapy, extracorporeal methods in the treatment of neuroinfections, in emergencies in particular, the possibilities of robotized mechanotherapy in rehabilitating children with movement disorders. The role of current noninvasive methods, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, evoked potentials, and electroneuromyography in diagnosing neuroinfections and monitoring rehabilitation processes, is shown. Tendencies and prospects for the development of the problem of neuroinfections are defined.