Differential-Diagnostic and Prognostic Indicators of the Development of Cerebral Palsy in Children who Have Experienced Encephalitis and Neuroinfections

Neuroinfections such as meningitis and encephalitis remain among the most serious causes of central nervous system (CNS) injury in children worldwide. Despite advances in diagnostic technologies, antimicrobial therapy, and intensive care, the burden of neurological sequelae following neuroinfectious diseases continues to be significant, especially in early childhood when the brain is undergoing rapid development. Long-term complications of neuroinfections frequently include cognitive impairments, motor dysfunction, sensory deficits, and epilepsy; among these outcomes, cerebral palsy (CP) represents one of the most severe and disabling consequences. The risk of CP formation is particularly high in infants and young children due to the susceptibility of the immature brain to hypoxic, inflammatory, and metabolic insults induced by infectious agents.