Active clinical trials for "Central Nervous System Infections"

Enterovirus and herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 are the main causative agents of central nervous system infections. Instead, the role of lymphocytic herpesviruses in the etiology of central nervous system (CNS) infections is not clear, even if there is the positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-result for the virus. The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of DNA from lymphocytic herpesviruses in the CSF obtained from the immunocompetent patients with CSF pleocytosis and from the patients with normal CSF leukocyte count.

Worldwide, central nervous system infections such as inflammation of brain (encephalitis), inflammation of meninges (meningitis) and sudden onset of weakness of muscles which maybe infectious in origin result in significant illness and death and healthcare costs. Vast majority of central nervous system infections remain without an identifiable cause. There is also concern about new and emerging infections. This study thus intends to fill in the gaps in knowledge with regards to central nervous system infections in Singapore to give a thorough description of burden of causes of central nervous system infections and detection of outbreaks of new pathogens. Patients suspected of central nervous system infection will be recruited from 5 restructured Singapore hospitals and their blood and other clinical specimens will be sent for testing. Patients will also be followed up to assess long term outcomes and socio-economic costs of these infections. This will help clinicians, policymakers and public health officials in estimating financial and societal costs of CNs infections in Singapore.

Our study involved 142 children with EV71 CNS infections that included 61 (43%) with viral meningitis, 53 (37%) with severe CNS involvement including encephalitis, polio-like syndrome and encephalomyelitis, and 28 (20%) with cardiopulmonary failure after CNS involvement. These children were subjected to physical and neurological examinations 2.85 (range 1.0-7.39) years after disease onset. Those below the age of 6 years took the Denver developmental screening test, while those 4 years and over took the intelligence quotient (IQ) test.