Affiliations: Pediatric Infectious Diseases Hurley Medical Center,
Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine Flint, Michigan, USA
Note: [] Correspondence: Walid Abuhammour, MD, FAAP, Hurley Medical
Center Pediatric Education 3W, One Hurley Plaza Flint, MI 48503-5993, USA.
E-mail: wabuham1@hurleymc.com
Abstract: La Crosse virus is an arbovirus of the California Serogroup (Family
Bunyaviridae), transmitted by the "tree-hole mosquito," Aedes triseriatus. La
Crosse encephalitis cases occur annually from July to October. The majority of
cases are asymptomatic, only a minority (< 4%) present with symptomatic
disease. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical manifestations of two
cases with severe La Crosse meningoencephalitis. The first case was a
12-year-old male, who presented with meningoencephalitis, which was complicated
by personality changes, stroke, aphasia and convulsions. The second one was a
5-year-old male, whose meningoencephalitis was complicated by recurrent
seizures. Both had history of mosquito bites. Cerebrospinal fluid revealed
pleocytosis with predominant polymorphonuclear leukocytes. In the first case,
brain computed tomography scan and brain magnetic resonance imaging showed
focal, right-sided frontal and temporal lobes cerebritis; they were normal in
the second case. Electroencephalogram showed focal slowing in the first case
and diffuse pattern in the second. Both had positive serology (immunoglobulin
M) for La Crosse virus. Both recovered completely.
Keywords: La Crosse virus, meningoencephalitis, children
