Affiliations: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA | Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA | Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC,
USA | Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA | Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA | Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA | Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Beth Slomine, ABPP. Department of
Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD
21205, USA. Tel.: +1 443 923 2725; Fax: +1 443 923 9105; E-mail:
slomine@kennedykrieger.org
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Patterns and predictors of recovery from encephalitis
are poorly understood. METHODS: This study examined functional status and reviewed charts
of all children who presented to a pediatric inpatient rehabilitation facility
with encephalitis between 1996 and 2010. Functional status at admission and
discharge from inpatient rehabilitation was evaluated using the Functional
Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) Self-care, Mobility, Cognitive, and
Total Developmental Functional Quotient scores (DFQ, % of age-appropriate
function). Charts were reviewed to characterize key clinical features and
findings. RESULTS: Of the 13 children identified, the mean age was 9 years
(range 5–16) with 54% males. Mean WeeFIM Total DFQ at admission was 37
(range: 15–90) and at discharge was 64 (range: 16–96). Average
change in WeeFIM Total DFQ from admission to discharge was 26.7 (range
0–55, p < 0.001). WeeFIM domain scores improved between admission and
discharge (Self-Care: p < 0.001, Cognition: p < 0.01, Mobility: p <
0.001). Eleven children displayed significant impairments in functional skills,
defined as DFQ of ⩽ 85, at discharge. Key clinical features and findings
were diverse and not related to functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that significant functional improvement
in children with encephalitis occurs during inpatient rehabilitation. Further
research is necessary to identify predictors of outcome in children with
encephalitis.
Keywords: Encephalitis, children and adolescents, functional independence measure, outcome, rehabilitation
