Human Parechovirus Meningoencephalitis In an Eight-Day-Old Infant

Human parechovirus (HPeV) infections have been increasing in the United States since May 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HPeVs are a member of the Picornaviridae family and share similarities with enteroviruses, though they differ in genomic structure. HPeV commonly affects children, with disease manifestations ranging anywhere from an asymptomatic infection to severe disease. HPeV typically affects the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts but may rarely also cause severe infection of the central nervous system (CNS), leading to sepsis-like illness, meningitis, and encephalitis. Of the 19 established serotypes of HPeV, serotypesA1 and A3 are most commonly identified in humans. HPeV serotype A3 is of particular importance as it more commonly causes sepsis and CNS infection, especially in children. In the United States between 2014 and 2016, a total of 2758 cases of enteroviruses and parechoviruses were reported to the National Enterovirus Surveillance System. Of those cases, 2.3% were distinguished as HPeVA3. This case details the clinical course of an eight-day-old infant with HPeV meningoencephalitis. The infant initially presented with fever and other nonspecific symptoms, which later progressed to include diffuse erythroderma and seizure activity. Although current management of HPeV meningoencephalitis involves supportive care and close monitoring, determining HPeV as a cause of infection is important due to the long-term sequelae that patients may develop. Potential complications of infection include white matter lesions of the brain, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, and visual impairment. This case was documented to increase awareness of the rising incidence of HPeV infections in children in the United States, as well as to detail the signs and symptoms of HPeV meningoencephalitis in a neonate.