Acute Focal Bacterial Nephritis Associated With Central Nervous System Manifestations: A Report of 2 Cases and Review of the Literature

Pediatr Emerg Care. 2017 Jun;33(6):418-421. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000000739.

Abstract

Acute focal bacterial nephritis (AFBN) is a localized bacterial infection of the kidney presenting as an inflammatory mass without frank abscess formation. In children, most patients with AFBN present with nonspecific conditions, such as fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain. A small number of reported cases are accompanied by neurological symptoms, including meningeal irritation, unconsciousness, and seizures. We experienced 2 rare cases of AFBN associated with central nervous system lesions. The first case was a 3-year-old girl who had neurological symptoms, including unconsciousness and seizures, with AFBN associated with acute reversible encephalopathy. The second case was a 5-year-old girl who had neurological symptoms, including unconsciousness, with AFBN accompanied by clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Infections / complications*
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Brain Diseases / complications*
  • Brain Diseases / drug therapy
  • Central Nervous System / diagnostic imaging
  • Central Nervous System / pathology*
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid / chemistry
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid / cytology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Encephalitis / complications*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nephritis / diagnosis
  • Nephritis / microbiology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents