Mosquitoes causes seizures condition

A 4-year-old boy has survived a monthlong battle with Eastern equine encephalitis, but his family says recovery may take a lifetime.

Christopher "C.J." Burke is one of seven New Hampshire residents to contract the mosquito-borne illness. Two people have died, a 20-year-old Newton woman and an 80-year-old Hooksett man.
Burke's parents say their son was hospitalized with seizures Aug. 16 and it took doctors 10 days to diagnose him. But because there is no cure for the disease, little could be done for him.

"There is no specific treatment (for encephalitis). Physicians are unable to directly fight the virus; care is considered supportive," said Elizabeth Talbot, deputy epidemiologist for the state.
Hospitals provide food and water, try to control the fever and cure any unrelated infections, Talbot said.

One-third of patients who develop the disease die and another third suffer significant side effects, Talbot said.

The Goffstown boy was hospitalized for nearly 30 days. At one point he was in a coma. He's now at a Boston rehabilitation center. His father, also Christopher Burke, says the boy remains on anti-seizure medicine and likely will come home in a wheelchair.

He anticipates a lifelong struggle for his son, but he's grateful that his boy is no longer in the intensive care unit, jerking in convulsions.

"The scariest thing in the world is to see a 4-year-old go through that," Burke said. "It's an absolute miracle he's alive and can do what he can do today."

The family said a "C.J. Fund" has been set up at Service Credit Union to help with expenses.