Tick-borne encephalitis presenting as fever without localising signs

Tick-borne encephalitis presenting as fever without localising signs
European Journal of Pediatrics, 11/09/09

Patrick Michael Meyer1 , Hanspeter Zimmermann2 and Philippe Goetschel1

Received: 9 August 2009  Accepted: 12 October 2009  Published online: 4 November 2009

Abstract

Introduction  Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) presents without neurologic symptoms in 19% in children less than 16 years in Switzerland (2000–2008). In these cases, fever can be the only leading manifestation.

Case series  We report on four hospitalised children who had TBE and presented as fever without localising signs (FWLS) between 2000 and 2008 in an endemic area in Switzerland.

Conclusion  TBE infection has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of FWLS in endemic areas. Foremost, FWLS characterised by a biphasic fever course and accompanied by headache in patients in a reduced general condition. Affirming that in patients presenting as FWLS also cases of TBE are contained, this disease is underreported.

Keywords  Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) – Fever without localising signs (FWLS) – Children – Switzerland

Financial Support: None.

No authors have any financial/conflicting interests to disclose.

All authors were involved in the retrospective study and in writing the report.
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 Patrick Michael Meyer
Email: patrick_meyer@gmx.net