Tick-borne encephalitis in Swiss children 2000-2004: five-year nationwide surveillance of epidemiologic characteristics and clinical course.

Tick-borne encephalitis occurred in 55 children, ranging from 6 weeks to 15 years old. Average annual incidence was 1.0 per 100,000 in all children, and 0.4 per 100,000 in children less than 6 years old. Moderate to severe residua were present in 5 patients (9%) at hospital discharge and in one 9-year-old patient (1.8%) at follow-up. Permanent residua occur in children approximately 10 times less often than in adults.