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Volume 28, Number 2—February 2022
CME ACTIVITY - Synopsis

Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics and Outcome of Illness Caused by Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus without Central Nervous System Involvement

Petra BogovičComments to Author , Andrej Kastrin, Stanka Lotrič-Furlan, Katarina Ogrinc, Tatjana Avšič Županc, Miša Korva, Nataša Knap, and Franc Strle
Author affiliations: University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia (P. Bogovič, S. Lotrič-Furlan, K. Ogrinc, F. Strle); University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Ljubljana (A. Kastrin, T. Avšič Županc, M. Korva, N. Knap)

Main Article

Table 3

Basic demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of febrile illness caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus infection with or without subsequent central nervous system involvement*

Characteristic Febrile illness followed by CNS involvement, n = 52
Febrile illness with possible later CNS involvement, n = 4
Febrile illness without later CNS involvement, n = 6
Sex
F 26 (50.0, 35.8–64.2) 2 (50.0, 6.8–93.2) 3 (50.0, 11.8–88.2)
M
26 (50.0, 35.8–64.2)
2 (50.0, 6.8–93.2)
3 (50.0, 11.8–88.2)
Median age, y (IQR)
50 (40.75–62)
52 (51.75–55)
45.5 (34.5–55)
Underlying illnesses
22 (42.3, 28.7–56.8)
0 (0, 0–60.2)
3 (50.0, 11.8–88.2)
History of tick bite†
45/51 (88.2, 76.1–95.6)
3/4 (75.0, 19.4–99.4)
5/6 (83.3, 35.9–99.6)
Median incubation period, d (IQR)‡
6 (4.5–9.5)§
9 (9–9)¶
6.5 (3–11)#
Median duration of illness before first evaluation, d (IQR)
5 (3.75–7)
5.5 (5–6.25)
5 (4.25–6.5)
Clinical manifestation
Body temperature >37.5°C 51/52 (98.1, 89.7–100) 3/4 (75.0, 19.4–99.4) 6 (100, 54.1–100)
Median body temperature, °C (IQR)** 38.5 (38–39) 38.3 (38.05–38.45) 39 (38.625–39)
Chills 10 (19.2, 9.6–32.5) 1 (25.0, 0.6–80.7) 1 (16.7, 0.4–64.1)
Headache 47 (90.4, 79.0–96.8) 2 (50.0, 6.8–93.2) 6 (100, 54.1–100)
Myalgias 27 (51.9, 37.6–66.0) 3 (75.0, 19.4–99.4) 3 (50.0, 11.8–88.2)
Arthralgias 22 (42.3, 28.7–56.8) 3 (75.0, 19.4–99.4) 2 (33.3, 4.3–77.7)
Gastrointestinal symptoms 24 (46.2, 32.2–60.5) 2 (50.0, 6.8–93.2) 3 (50.0, 11.8–88.2)
Abdominal pain 1 (1.9, 0.1–10.3) 1 (25.0, 0.6–80.7) 0 (0, 0–45.9)
Nausea, vomiting 22 (42.3, 28.7–56.8) 2 (25.0, 0.6–80.7) 2 (33.3, 4.3–77.7)
Diarrhea 6 (11.5, 4.4–23.4) 2 (50.0, 6.8–93.2) 1 (16.7, 0.4–64.1)
Malaise or fatigue 52 (100, 93.2–100) 4 (100, 39.8–100) 5 (83.3, 35.9–99.6)
Respiratory symptoms 7 (13.4, 5.6–25.8) 0 (0, 0–60.2) 1 (16.7, 0.4–64.1)
Sore throat 7 (13.4, 5.6–25.8) 0 (0, 0–60.2) 1 (16.7, 0.4–64.1)
Cough
1 (1.9, 0.1–10.3)
0 (0, 0–60.2)
0 (0, 0–45.9)
Median duration of illness, d (IQR)
7 (6–8)††
8 (7–9)‡‡
9 (7.5–9.75)
Hospitalization
No. hospitalized patients 20 (38.5, 25.3–53.0) 2 (50.0, 6.8–93.2) 3 (50.0, 11.8–88.2)
Median duration, d (IQR)
4 (1–6)§§
4.5 (3.75–5.25)
4 (2.5–5)
Laboratory findings
Median blood leukocyte count, × 109/L 
(IQR) 2.2 (1.8–2.85)¶¶ 1.7 (1.675–1.95) 2.95 (2.5–4.15)
Blood leukocyte count <4 × 109/L 50 (100, 92.9–100) 4 (100, 39.8–100) 4 (66.7, 22.3–95.7)
Blood leukocyte count >10 × 109/L 0 (0, 0–7.1) 0 (0, 0–60.2) 0 (0, 0–45.9)
Median blood platelet count, × 109/L (IQR) 125.5 (108.25–152.75)¶¶ 110 (86–134.25) 139 (118.5–162.5)
Blood platelet count <140 × 109/L 34 (68.0, 53.3–80.5) 3 (75.0, 19.4–99.4) 3 (50.0, 11.8–88.2)
Serum C-reactive protein elevated, 
>5 mg/L
3/50 (6.0, 1.3–16.6)##
0 (0, 0–60.2)
1 (16.7, 0.4–64.1)***
Liver tests, µkat/L (IQR)
Median aspartate aminotransferase 0.605 (0.4575–0.84)††† 1.05 (0.59–3.55) 0.62 (0.5075–0.845)
Elevated >0.58 26 (54.2, 39.2–68.6) 3 (75.0, 19.4–99.4) 4 (66.7, 22.3–95.7)
Median alanine aminotransferase 0.535 (0.4–0.82)††† 1.285 (0.48–3.5225) 0.56 (0.3475–0.78)
Elevated >0.77 µkat/L
13 (27.1, 15.3–41.9)
2 (50.0, 6.8–93.2)
2 (33.3, 4.3–77.7)
No. patients with >1 abnormal liver 
test result 29/48 (60.4, 45.3–74.2)
3 (75.0, 19.4–99.4)
4 (66.7, 22.3–95.7)

*Values are no. (%, 95% CI) except as indicated. CNS, central nervous system; IQR, interquartile range. †Tick bite within 4 weeks before onset of illness. ‡Time (d) from tick bite to onset of illness calculated only in patients with 1 bite. §Data available for 27 patients. ¶Data available for 1 patient. #Data available for 4 patients. **The highest temperature in the course of the illness. ††Data available for 45 patients. ‡‡Data available for 2 patients. §§Data available for 17 patients. ¶¶Data available for 50 patients. ##Median 6, range 6–9. ***Value 45. †††Data available for 48 patients.

Main Article

Page created: December 02, 2021
Page updated: January 21, 2022
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