Spectrum of Neurological Manifestations of HHV-6 Encephalitis in Immunocompetent Children – A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Center in South India

Background: Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV6) can cause severe neurological manifestations in immunocompromised individuals. However, there is sparse data regarding this in immunocompetent children. Objective: To describe the spectrum of neurological manifestations of HHV 6 infection and outcome in immuno...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dona T Thomas, Kalpana Devadathan, Greeshma Baby, Mohammed PA Kunju, Prameela Joji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-05-01
Series:Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/aian.aian_717_24
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849426397771071488
author Dona T Thomas
Kalpana Devadathan
Greeshma Baby
Mohammed PA Kunju
Prameela Joji
author_facet Dona T Thomas
Kalpana Devadathan
Greeshma Baby
Mohammed PA Kunju
Prameela Joji
author_sort Dona T Thomas
collection DOAJ
description Background: Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV6) can cause severe neurological manifestations in immunocompromised individuals. However, there is sparse data regarding this in immunocompetent children. Objective: To describe the spectrum of neurological manifestations of HHV 6 infection and outcome in immunocompetent children admitted with suspected meningoencephalitis from January 2017 to December 2023. Methodology: We retrospectively analysed the electronic medical records of children admitted for suspected meningoencephalitis in a tertiary care Pediatric Neurology centre in South India. The children whose cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was found to be positive for HHV6 DNA in film array meningoencephalitis (FA -ME) panel were included. Results: 204 /416 children with suspected meningoencephalitis were included in the study. HHV 6 was detected in 12 children. The median age was 19 months (Range – 6 months to 16 years). 4 (33%) of them were classified as febrile status. 5 (42%) children had meningoencephalitis, and one had aseptic meningitis. One child each had features of probable acute demyelinating encephalo myelitis (ADEM) and anti NMDA receptor encephalitis. 9 (75%) children had uneventful clinical recovery, one child died, one child with probable ADEM had extrapyramidal signs at discharge, which improved completely at one year follow up and the baby with autoimmune encephalitis had significant neurological deficits. Conclusion: HHV 6 can cause significant neurological problems, with significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompetent children also.
format Article
id doaj-art-a4f225f69ae441a59dc25f8a0ffadb5b
institution Kabale University
issn 0972-2327
1998-3549
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology
spelling doaj-art-a4f225f69ae441a59dc25f8a0ffadb5b2025-08-20T03:29:26ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsAnnals of Indian Academy of Neurology0972-23271998-35492025-05-0128340040510.4103/aian.aian_717_24Spectrum of Neurological Manifestations of HHV-6 Encephalitis in Immunocompetent Children – A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Center in South IndiaDona T ThomasKalpana DevadathanGreeshma BabyMohammed PA KunjuPrameela JojiBackground: Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV6) can cause severe neurological manifestations in immunocompromised individuals. However, there is sparse data regarding this in immunocompetent children. Objective: To describe the spectrum of neurological manifestations of HHV 6 infection and outcome in immunocompetent children admitted with suspected meningoencephalitis from January 2017 to December 2023. Methodology: We retrospectively analysed the electronic medical records of children admitted for suspected meningoencephalitis in a tertiary care Pediatric Neurology centre in South India. The children whose cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was found to be positive for HHV6 DNA in film array meningoencephalitis (FA -ME) panel were included. Results: 204 /416 children with suspected meningoencephalitis were included in the study. HHV 6 was detected in 12 children. The median age was 19 months (Range – 6 months to 16 years). 4 (33%) of them were classified as febrile status. 5 (42%) children had meningoencephalitis, and one had aseptic meningitis. One child each had features of probable acute demyelinating encephalo myelitis (ADEM) and anti NMDA receptor encephalitis. 9 (75%) children had uneventful clinical recovery, one child died, one child with probable ADEM had extrapyramidal signs at discharge, which improved completely at one year follow up and the baby with autoimmune encephalitis had significant neurological deficits. Conclusion: HHV 6 can cause significant neurological problems, with significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompetent children also.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/aian.aian_717_24hhv-6 encephalitisimmunocompetent childrenfa-me panel
spellingShingle Dona T Thomas
Kalpana Devadathan
Greeshma Baby
Mohammed PA Kunju
Prameela Joji
Spectrum of Neurological Manifestations of HHV-6 Encephalitis in Immunocompetent Children – A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Center in South India
Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology
hhv-6 encephalitis
immunocompetent children
fa-me panel
title Spectrum of Neurological Manifestations of HHV-6 Encephalitis in Immunocompetent Children – A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Center in South India
title_full Spectrum of Neurological Manifestations of HHV-6 Encephalitis in Immunocompetent Children – A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Center in South India
title_fullStr Spectrum of Neurological Manifestations of HHV-6 Encephalitis in Immunocompetent Children – A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Center in South India
title_full_unstemmed Spectrum of Neurological Manifestations of HHV-6 Encephalitis in Immunocompetent Children – A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Center in South India
title_short Spectrum of Neurological Manifestations of HHV-6 Encephalitis in Immunocompetent Children – A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Center in South India
title_sort spectrum of neurological manifestations of hhv 6 encephalitis in immunocompetent children a retrospective study at a tertiary care center in south india
topic hhv-6 encephalitis
immunocompetent children
fa-me panel
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/aian.aian_717_24
work_keys_str_mv AT donatthomas spectrumofneurologicalmanifestationsofhhv6encephalitisinimmunocompetentchildrenaretrospectivestudyatatertiarycarecenterinsouthindia
AT kalpanadevadathan spectrumofneurologicalmanifestationsofhhv6encephalitisinimmunocompetentchildrenaretrospectivestudyatatertiarycarecenterinsouthindia
AT greeshmababy spectrumofneurologicalmanifestationsofhhv6encephalitisinimmunocompetentchildrenaretrospectivestudyatatertiarycarecenterinsouthindia
AT mohammedpakunju spectrumofneurologicalmanifestationsofhhv6encephalitisinimmunocompetentchildrenaretrospectivestudyatatertiarycarecenterinsouthindia
AT prameelajoji spectrumofneurologicalmanifestationsofhhv6encephalitisinimmunocompetentchildrenaretrospectivestudyatatertiarycarecenterinsouthindia