Viral meningoencephalitis and head injury

Abstract

Among 162 children referred with head injury (in a 3 yr period) a viral meningoencephalitis was proven to be present in 7 cases. Only 1 patient showed symptoms of infection before the accident. On admission classical signs of viral meningoencephalitis were absent or mixed with the complications of head injury. A diagnosis of viral meningitis/meningoencephalitis was documented by immunofluorescent demonstration of viral antigens in CSF cells and/or pattern of CSF cytology and/or conventoinal serological methods. Whether the trauma and the infection are coincidental or causally related can not be decided definitively. A hypothesis is presented suggesting diminished alertness in subclinical viral meningoencephalitis, leading to accident proneness.