Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, 2 Po Ning Lane, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O, N.T., Hong Kong, China; Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
MM Yau (邱文謐) MBBS, MRCPCH
Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
Q Mok FRCP, FRCPI
P Prabhakar MBBS, FRCPCH
Correspondence to: Dr MM Yau
Received November 8, 2010
There is increasing recognition of human parechovirus (HPeV) as a neurotropic virus, especially type 3, which can cause sepsis and encephalitis in young infants. We present a case of neonatal brainstem encephalitis caused by HPeV and review the fifteen published cases in the literature. This is the first report of HPeV causing brainstem encephalitis. Earlier use of polymerase chain reaction testing for HPeV should be considered in appropriate cases.
