[Pathogenesis of nervous system lesions in epidemic parotitis in children].

The authors studied antibodies to the nervous tissue in the blood (pair serum with an interval of 10 days) and in the CSF in 155 patients with epidemic parotitis and signs of neurotoxicosis, parotit meningitis and meningoencephalitis. Depending upon the intensivity of antibody elaboration 3 groups were distinguished. The first group (40 cases), with a high content of antibodies to the nervous tissue, was characterized by a prevalence of encephalitic forms (in 30 of the 40 cases). In the second group (32 cases) with a less antibody content there was a prevalence of meningitis, while meningoencephalitis was seen only in 3 cases. The third group (83 cases) with a low concentration or absence of antibodies was characterized by a mild course of the disease. This group included as well patients with neurotoxicosis. These data may indicate involvement of allergic mechanisms of a retarded type in the pathogenesis of remote lesions of the nervous system in epidemic parotitis.