Neonatal Rotavirus-Associated Leukoencephalopathy Is One of the Main Causes of Fifth-Day Fits

Rotavirus infection-associated central nervous system complications: clinicoradiological features and potential mechanisms

Despite the introduction of vaccines in 2006, rotavirus remains one of the most common causes of pediatric gastroenteritis worldwide. While many studies have conclusively shown that rotavirus infection causes gastroenteritis and is associated with various extraintestinal manifestations including central nervous system (CNS) complications, extraintestinal manifestations due to rotavirus infection have been relatively overlooked. Rotavirus infection-associated CNS complications are common in children and present with diverse clinicoradiological features. Rotavirus infection-associated CNS complications can be classified based on clinical features and brain magnetic resonance imaging findings, particularly lesion location on diffusion-weighted imaging. Common clinicoradiological features of rotavirus infection-associated CNS complications include: (1) benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis; (2) acute encephalopathies/encephalitis, such as mild encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion, acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion, and acute necrotizing encephalopathy; (3) acute cerebellitis; and (4) neonatal rotavirus-associated leukoencephalopathy. The precise mechanism underlying the development of these complications remains unknown despite a number of clinical and laboratory studies. Here we review the diverse clinicoradiological features of rotavirus infection-associated CNS complications and propose a hypothesis of their pathophysiology.

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Neonatal Rotavirus-Associated Leukoencephalopathy

Rotavirus infection has been reported to be associated with neonatal seizures with a diffuse and symmetrical diffusion restriction of periventricular white matter, namely, neonatal rotavirus-associated leukoencephalopathy. The extensive white matter injury seen in this cohort raises concerns about the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. In the present study, we prospectively assessed the neurodevelopmental outcomes of 13 patients with neonatal rotavirus-associated leukoencephalopathy at a median age of 26 months (range, 23-68 months). Neurodevelopmental outcomes were evaluated using a neurological examination, developmental evaluations, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Overall, 6 of the 13 patients (46%) had abnormal neurodevelopmental outcomes: 1 patient had mental retardation, visual-motor integration (VMI) dysfunction, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy; 1 patient had cerebral palsy and VMI dysfunction; remaining 4 patients had VMI dysfunction. Follow-up MRI in 12 of 13 patients showed an increased signal intensity on periventricular white matter in all patients. These findings suggested that neonatal rotavirus-associated leukoencephalopathy could not be assumed to be benign in long-term neurodevelopment, particularly in VMI function. Early intervention and long-term follow-up are necessary for these patients. Our findings raise caution for rotavirus infection in this vulnerable population for infants.

Effectiveness of Nursing Risk Management in Neonatal Asphyxia Resuscitation Care

Objective

To analyze the effectiveness of nursing risk management in neonatal asphyxia resuscitation care and to observe and summarize the nursing measures and outcomes.

Methods

A total of 60 neonatal asphyxia cases from January 2021 to December 2021 were recruited and assigned via a random number table method at a ratio of 1 : 1 to receive either routine care plus nursing risk management (the observation group, n = 30) or routine care (the control group, n = 30). Outcome measures included blood gas index, neonatal Apgar score, neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) score, nursing satisfaction, and complications.

Results

The differences in partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) between the two groups before care were not statistically significant (P > 0.05), while after care, PaO₂ in the observation group had a higher level of PaO₂ and a lower level of PaCO₂ than the control group (P < 0.01). The two groups showed similar Apgar scores and NBNA scores before care (P > 0.05), while after care, routine care plus nursing risk management resulted in higher Apgar scores and NBNA scores versus routine care alone (P < 0.01). The nursing satisfaction rate in the observation group (96.67%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (73.33%) (P=0.030). Nursing risk management plus routine care was associated with a significantly lower incidence of complications (6.67%) compared to routine care (26.67%) (P=0.038).

Conclusion

Nursing risk management in neonatal asphyxia resuscitation care showed outstanding outcomes in improving neonatal blood gas index, neurological function, and Apgar score, while reducing the occurrence of complications and achieving high nursing satisfaction.