Neurological manifestations of pediatric arboviral infections in the Americas

Abstract

Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya and yellow fever viruses are arboviruses transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. These viruses exhibit marked neurotropism but have rarely been studied. Here, we conduct an integrative review of the neurological manifestations caused by these arboviruses in the pediatric population. Data on patients under 18 years of age were extracted from literature databases. The most frequently reported neurological manifestations were encephalitis, meningitis, seizures, hypotonia, paresis, and behavioral changes. This review highlights the importance of accurately diagnosing these arboviral infections in children and adolescents with neurological manifestations.

Keywords: Chikungunya virus; Dengue virus; Neurological manifestations; Yellow fever virus; Zika virus.