Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective The aim of our study is to define the most common clinical presentations, etiology and evolution in children presenting with acute cerebellitis amoung a Tunisian population. Background The rare inflammatory condition known as acute cerebellitis(AC) can present with anything from benign, self-limiting symptoms to a fulminant presentation that carries a significant risk of death. Poor data are available, especially in developing countries. Design/Methods We conducted a retrospective descriptive study including patients who were hospitalized at the department of pediatric neurology at the National Institute of Neurology of Tunisia, between 2005-2024, having a diagnosis of AC and a minimal follow-up period of six months. The outcome was assessed at the end of hospitalization and was defined as complete or incomplete recovery evaluated through the the SARA (Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia) score. Results The study included 56 children, with a mean age of 5.41 ± 3.59 years. Mean SARA score on admission was 8.62 ± 3.84. Headache (35.7%), vomiting (46.4%), fever (46.4%) and drowsiness (33.9%) were the most frequent initial symptoms. The most frequent causes of AC were post infectious (76.8%) and para-infectious cerebellitis (23.2%). The most common etiologies were varicella (17.9%), enterovirus (10.7%), measles (7.1%), and covid (5.4%). Brain MRI was normal in 71.4%. When abnormal it showed bilateral white matter lesions (16.4%), cerebellar oedema (3.6%) and hydrocephalus (1.8%). Corticosteroids were the most commonly used treatment (73.2%). Mean SARA score at 6 months was 0.50 ± 1.47. Complete recovery was noted in 76.8 %. There was no significant difference in terms of sequelae between the post and per-infectious groups(p=0.135). Conclusions Post-infectious cerebellitis caused by the varicellar virus is the most common cause of acute cerebellitis in our study. Most of the time, full recovery took place but complications can occur. Therefore, particular attention must be paid to the initial clinical and imaging findings.
Source: Neurology
Authors: Yasmine Saad, Hanene Ben Rhouma, Maha Jamoussi, Thouraya Ben Younes, Hedia Klaa, Zouhour Miladi, Abir Zioudi, Ilhem Turki, Ichraf Kraoua
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4403206397