ENCEPHALITIS CASES

Encephalitis Cases

Trey

James (Trey) was a typical 4 yr old boy; very active and happy go lucky. Then on Tuesday August 15, 2006 in the evening he came in from playing complaining about a headache. He was given some children's Tylenol and he went on his way playing so nothing was thought of it. The next day it was the same, except then he was not so rowdy as usual. I told him "we would tell the doctor about the headache when you go in on Friday. Thursday the headache was worsening and I was getting concerned because wasn't eating at this time and was laying in bed watching cartoons with a cool cloth on his forehead.

Friday's appointment came and the doctor did blood work and called and said he had a virus. The lab told dad that the white blood count was up but not enough at the time to be concerned about. By Friday evening Trey was only laying in bed watching cartoons while laying a cool cloth on his forehead, and drinking water.

Saturday he was getting worse and I was debating if Trey would be able to wait till Monday. Trey's Dad was getting scared at this point and didn't go into work and took Trey to the local E.R. where they repeated the blood work. His white blood count had jumped up enormously; his pediatrician was out of town so the doctor on call admitted him. They did a spinal tap and we were then told he had LaCross Encephalitis (from a mosquito bite.)

On Monday morning he had a gran-mal seizure and was very lethargic. His pediatrician was called and coming through the doors of the hospital and she immediately told them to contact Charleston Area Medical Center he was going down there. He was admitted into the P.I.C.U. after doing a catscan. The doctor said he had a breathing tube ready for Trey in case he needed it (which case thank God he didn't). We were told that he would get worse before he got better, which scared the daylights out of us! All he did was sleep.

On Wednesday it was like bam, Trey was awake! Giving daddy high5's and smiling! Although when he was able to get out of bed he was really weak and was very wobbly, when he would talk his words would drag out. He really bounced back very quick and very surprisingly! Even the doctor was surprised. On Friday August 25, 2006 we brought our baby boy home!!

Trey has done everything the doctor said to expect. He said "he will still possibly have headaches and seizures, be testy, easy to upset so try to keep him from getting too upset, irritable, easily agitated, and hyper". We have had the good fortune of NO more seizures so far. He still gets headaches at times and his head hurts in loud places (lunch room and on the playground at school. And since Trey is just in Kindergarten this year we still don't know if he is going to have any learning problems.) At times he can be off the wall bouncy but once he calms then he will have a really bad headache. He also complained he is cold at times even if it wasn't really cold. It has been a rough rough road the past 16 months but he is coming along slowly but surely and we're hoping his behaviors will calm enough to where he can be taken of the behavior med's and go back to being the once rambunctious kid he was before.

So now if I'm talking to anyone about kids I always tell them my grandsons illness and to make sure they always keep insect repellent on them when out playing!! We always make sure Trey and his sister have it on when they go out to play.

If for some unfortunate reason the behaviors never go away well then... at least we still have our baby!!

Trey's Grandmother
North Carolina, U.S.A.

Posted: January 4, 2008

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