Effect of Timing of Rehabilitation Nursing Intervention on Children with Acute Viral Encephalitis

Abstract

Background: Viral encephalitis (VE) refers to an acute intracranial inflammation mainly caused by various viral infections. Objectives: Viral encephalitis (VE) refers to an acute inflammation of the brain primarily caused by various viral infections. Methods: Data from 60 children with acute viral encephalitis (VE) who received 4 weeks of rehabilitation nursing from July 2019 to July 2020 were collected for retrospective analysis. These children were divided into two groups: An early intervention group (n = 30), where rehabilitation nursing started in the second week after admission, and a late intervention group (n = 30), where rehabilitation nursing began in the fourth week after admission. Motor function, daily living abilities, and limb spasticity were compared before and four weeks after nursing. Additionally, the outcomes of rehabilitation nursing—including recovery times from convulsions, cranial nerve disorders, and consciousness disorders—were also compared. Results: The scores for motor function and daily living ability were significantly higher, while the score for limb spasticity was lower in the early intervention group compared to the late intervention group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the early intervention group experienced a significantly shorter recovery time from convulsions, cranial nerve disorders, and consciousness disorders than the late intervention group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Early rehabilitation nursing is effective in enhancing motor function, relieving limb spasticity, and improving the nursing outcomes for children with acute viral encephalitis (VE).