Fatal European subtype tick-borne encephalitis in a fully vaccinated immunocompetent child: a case report with viral sequencing.
BMC infectious diseases·
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12879-026-13657-0
- PMID
- 42215968
- PMCID
- PMC13221759
- OpenAlex
- W7162799402
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Publisher unavailable
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The documentation underscores the continued importance of pediatric immunization protocols and maintaining clinical suspicion in geographically susceptible zones. It further suggests that monitoring NS1-specific antibodies could enhance detection accuracy within vaccinated cohorts.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The report examines the clinical progression and diagnostic challenges encountered during a fatal tick-borne encephalitis infection in a fully immunized child.
Study design
The investigation employs a single-patient case report methodology to document clinical observations and laboratory analyses.
Population and setting
The subject was a nine-year-old previously healthy individual assessed within an emergency department framework located in a region with known pathogen circulation.
Main findings
The patient experienced rapid neurological deterioration without characteristic febrile phases, culminating in fatal intracranial complications. Genomic sequencing identified the vaccine-matched European viral strain. Definitive diagnosis relied on detecting immunoglobulin G against the NS1 protein alongside post-mortem tissue amplification.
Public-health relevance
The documentation underscores the continued importance of pediatric immunization protocols and maintaining clinical suspicion in geographically susceptible zones. It further suggests that monitoring NS1-specific antibodies could enhance detection accuracy within vaccinated cohorts.
Important limitations
The singular observational structure prevents statistical generalization and limits the identification of broader demographic risk factors.
GIDS interpretation
This publication contributes a documented instance of severe pediatric disease that occurred despite standard immunization, offering additional clinical context for symptom variability and serological markers. The record serves as a reference point for understanding atypical presentations and diagnostic pathways within the existing medical literature.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 7 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.