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Abstract: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a potentially life-threatening disease in humans and is caused by a flavivirus spread by infected ticks (Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus). TBE is endemic across much of Central and Eastern Europe and the incidence is increasing, with numbers estimated to be as many as 8755 cases per year. The reasons for this increase are multi-faceted and may involve improvements in diagnosis and reporting of TBE cases, increases in recreational activities in areas inhabited by infected ticks and changes in climatic conditions affecting tick habitats. Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing TBE; following a successful nationwide vaccination campaign in Austria, the annual number of TBE cases fell to about 10% of those reported in the pre-vaccination era. This report describes the findings of a group of leading experts from six Central and Eastern European countries who convened to discuss TBE in their region during the 28th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) Nice, France, 4–8 May 2010. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Tick-borne encephalitis in children appears to be more benign than in adults and shows also a more favourable outcome. Only some authors report of sequelae like paralysis, paresis or seizures and behavioural abnormalities. The aim was to describe the clinical features of tick-borne encephalitis in children with special attention to sequelae and to review the literature. Methods: Retrospective review of all charts of children with serologically confirmed tick-borne encephalitis hospitalised in Styria between 1981 and 2005. Results: One hundred sixteen children were diagnosed with tick-borne encephalitis. Ninety-two children (79.3%) developed meningitis and 24 (20.7%) meningoencephalitis. Eleven patients with meningoencephalitis showed somnolence, 5 confusion, 5 tremors, 2 facial palsy, 1 ataxia, 1 epileptic seizure and 1 hemi paresis. Seven patients had to be admitted to the intensive care unit. Two children (1.7%) developed long time neurological sequelae: one epileptic seizure with requirement of antiepileptic therapy and one left-sided hemi paresis. One hundred twelve children had been not and 3 incompletely vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis. Only one child had been fully vaccinated according to the Austrian vaccination schedule. Conclusion: Our study provides further evidence that tick-borne encephalitis in children has a substantial morbidity and in single cases severe long-time neurological sequelae are observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the significance of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in young children. A study was conducted in 19 children which showed that after TBE the children performed worse in neuropsychological testing, and electroencephalograms (EEGs) were more often abnormal. All children were considered to be fully recovered by their parents. In highly endemic areas, like Austria, before a broad TBE vaccination level was reached, the age-related incidence was different with a high incidence also in children, especially in the age group between 7 and 14 years of age. Same pattern was also reported from highly endemic areas in Russia.

A large majority of Austrian citizens are aware of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), consequently reflected by a high vaccination rate of 85%. In return, risk assessment and disease mapping on human cases might be hampered due to high and inhomogeneous vaccination rates and travel habitats of humans. The roe deer was used to obtain a starting point for the integral view on the actual risk of TBE in Austria. The roe deer exhibits several attributes which makes it suitable as an indicator species: the roe deer has a restricted home range and it is known to be a heavy tick carrier. Furthermore it sero-converts after infection with TBE, but no outbreak occurs. Sera from 945 roe deer were obtained from all over Austria and screened with IFAT for the antibodies against TBE. Twenty-two positive samples, 2.4%, and 17 samples at the borderline titre of 1:16 were identified. The majority of the positive samples, 70.6%, were located in known TBE areas based on human cases. Further research is needed to confirm or reject new endemic foci of TBE transmission., (Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)