Daniel Dubinski, Sae-Yeon Won, Artem Rafaelian, Ulrich Sure, Phillipp Dammann, Laurèl Rauschenbach, Christian Senft, Nazife Dinc, Nazeer Aboud, Florian Ringel, Malte Ottenhausen, Daniel Scurtu, Wolfgang Deinsberger, Stefanie Kästner, Jo Chen, Veit Rohde, Friederike Knerlich-Lukoschus, Hans Bock, Silvia Hernandez, Dorothee Mielke, Peter Baumgarten, Paulina Günzeroth, Hartmut Vatter, Sevgi Sarikaya-Seiwert, Matthias Schneider, Thomas Beez, Hendrik Jan Mijderwijk, Linda Wierich Altamirano, Robert Mlynski, Eva Herrmann, Thomas Freiman, Florian Gessler
- Long-term challenges after treatment of hydrocephalus in childhood (Pediatric & CSF Parallel Session), Lehar 3, October 6, 2025, 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Intracranial infection in children is a rare but life-threatening condition that requires immediate neurosurgical care. In this multicenter analysis, we examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence, clinical characteristics and outcome of children with intracranial infections requiring neurosurgery.
Methods
Data from 109 children (aged 0–18 years) undergoing 178 neurosurgical procedures for intracranial infections between 2014 and 2024 from 10 pediatric neurosurgeries were analysed. Pre-pandemic (2014–2020) and post-pandemic (2021–2024) cohorts were compared and incidence risk ratios (IRRs) were calculated. Etiologies, clinical course and sequela were analysed. Outcomes were assessed via the pediatric modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge and 3-month follow-up.
Results
The annual incidence of pediatric intracranialLong-term challenges after treatment of hydrocephalus in childhood (Pediatric & CSF Parallel Session), Lehar 3, October 6, 2025, 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Intracranial infection in children is a rare but life-threatening condition that requires immediate neurosurgical care. In this multicenter analysis, we examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence, clinical characteristics and outcome of children with intracranial infections requiring neurosurgery.
Methods
Data from 109 children (aged 0–18 years) undergoing 178 neurosurgical procedures for intracranial infections between 2014 and 2024 from 10 pediatric neurosurgeries were analysed. Pre-pandemic (2014–2020) and post-pandemic (2021–2024) cohorts were compared and incidence risk ratios (IRRs) were calculated. Etiologies, clinical course and sequela were analysed. Outcomes were assessed via the pediatric modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge and 3-month follow-up.
Results
The annual incidence of pediatric intracranial infections requiring neurosurgery increased significantly post-pandemic, with an IRR of 2.6 (95% CI: 1.9–3.5, p < 0.001). Intracranial infections secondary to sinusitis and otitis demonstrated even sharper rises, with IRRs of 3.6 (95% CI: 2.4–5.4, p < 0.001) and 4.7 (95% CI: 3.1–7.2, p < 0.001), respectively. Despite this surge, functional outcomes remained stable: median mRS scores showed no significant differences between pre- and post-pandemic cohorts at discharge (pre: 2 [IQR 1–3] vs. post: 2 [IQR 1–3], p = 0.3882) or 3-month follow-up (pre: 1 [IQR 0–2] vs. post: 1 [IQR 0–2], p = 0.9278).
Conclusions
These findings highlights the need for increased awareness and vigilance for intracranial infections in children after the pandemic era.…
