Infantile “meningo-encephalitic” syndrome

Summary and Conclusions

• 1. A characteristic “meningo-encephalitic” syndrome occurring in infants and small children in this region is described.

• 2. The typical syndrome is characterized by a pale, apathetic, well-contoured, plumpy infant, usually between the age of 6 and 18 months with sparse, light coloured hair over the scalp and eyebrows and a vacant look, most commonly presenting with coarse tremors of one or more groups of muscles, usually affecting one side of the face, eyelids, forefinger and thumb, and a tremulous cry. Mild to moderate anaemia is usually present. The skin, most commonly over the thighs and trunk, shows a reticular or honeycomb “pigmentation”, probably due to subcutaneous veno-capillary dilatation. The tremors and skin “pigmentation” dis-appear during the course of a few days to three or four months without any suggestion of response to therapy. Delayed milestones and mental retardation are prominent features.

• 3. Sixty cases encountered during a course of five years are described and their clinicial features analysed.

• 4. In the absence of a definite cause being found, the possible aetiological factors are discussed and further lines of investigation suggested.