ENCEPHALITIS CASES

Encephalitis Cases

Jaclyn

Jaclyn was 5 years old and when diagnosed with Lacrosse/California encephalitis July 15, 2000.We live in Columbus Ohio and Jaclyn had gone to West Virginia with her older sister Kelli to stay with grandparents for two weeks. Jaclyn became ill the Sunday we left to come home. She started vomiting and had a fever. She was sick 3 to 4 times on the drive home. We went to the pediatrician on Tuesday and was told she had a virus and to give her motrin for the fever. The fever kept getting higher on Tuesday night and we took her to Children's Hospital ER. Jaclyn was given IV fluids because she was becoming dehydrated from vomiting so much. Again we were told she had a virus and were sent home.

We were back in the pediatricians office 2 more times and the ER one more time and given the same diagnosis. By Friday night Jaclyn still had a fever and started saying things that just didn't make sense. She got up to go to the restroom and walked right into the bathroom door and then walked into the coffee table in the living room on her way back.

I had the pediatrician paged and while waiting on a call back Jaclyn's eyes just went blank. I immediately called 911 and while on the phone Jaclyn had a seizure. Her eyes went to one side and did not move. We could not get any reaction from her what-so-ever. She was transported to Children's Hospital Trauma and was immediately given medication for the seizure. Her seizure lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes. After the seizure was over they did a CT scan and a spinal tap and they took several tubes of blood to be tested. She still did not talk and wouldn't make any direct eye contact.

Over the next few days she was given several different types of antibiotics since they did not know what the exact cause was. They were also giving her Dilantin for the seizure. The next morning she finally spoke and knew who we were. Jaclyn was sent home from the hospital on Monday with a prescription for the dilantin in case there were anymore seizures.

It all seems like a horrible nightmare now. Jaclyn is now back to her old self. Playing with her toys, watching cartoons and doesn't seem to have suffered any memory loss or any other changes. She will have to take the anti-seizure medication for about 6 months and will be doing another EEG in 6 months. I cannot stand for her to be in another room for more than a few minutes without checking on her. I have slept with her since she came home from the hospital and sleep with one hand on her body at all times.

If anyone has a similar story I would like to hear from you!
Thanks for reading our story!

Vickie
Columbus Ohio, U.S.A.

Posted: August 1, 2000

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