A comparison of clinical features of Japanese encephalitis virus infection in the adult and pediatric age group with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome.

Authors:
Address: Regional Medical Research Centre, ICMR, Northeast Region, Post Box No. 105, PIN 786 001 Dibrugarh, Assam, India.
Journal:

Publication:

abstract

BACKGROUND:

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) has traditionally been regarded as a disease of children. the age shift in JE patients in Assam, India in last few years has become a cause of concern. comparison on clinical features of adult and pediatric JE patients has not been evaluated.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare clinical features of adult and pediatric with JE virus infection.

STUDY DESIGN:

From January 2008 to January 2010, 550 hospitalized patients with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome were enrolled. 259 (47.1%) were serologically confirmed as JE of which 66.4% were adult and 33.6% were pediatric. Data extracted from these patients were analyzed.

RESULTS:

Fever was the most common symptom in both the adult and pediatric. When compared with adult, significantly higher percentage of pediatric had neck rigidity, convulsions, abnormal behavior, seizures and elevated aspartate transaminase (P<0.05). Serum bilirubin levels were higher in 2.3% of adult but normal in all the pediatric. We found significantly higher mean elevated level of protein and WBC in CSF in adult (P<0.001) and mean elevated aspartate transaminase level (P<0.001) in pediatrics. There was no difference in mortality rate between pediatric and adult (8.2% vs. 4.4%, P=0.647).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study provides some significant differences in clinical features of pediatric and adult with JE. Age shift may be due to the invasion of the disease into new demography or some change in the virus strain over time. The Government of India has initiated an adult JE vaccination programme for the first time in Assam in 2011.

Related Articles
Japanese encephalitis among hospitalized pediatric and adult patients with acute encephalitis syndrome in Hanoi, Vietnam 1995.
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1998
Japanese encephalitis among hospitalized pediatric and adult patients with acute encephalitis syndrome in Hanoi, Vietnam 1995.
Lowry PW, Truong DH, Hinh LD, Ladinsky JL, Karabatsos N, Cropp CB, Martin D, Gubler DJ. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1998 Mar; 58(3):324-9.
Inapparent infection of Japanese encephalitis (JE) among human population of Karb Anglong District of Assam.
J Commun Dis. 1993
Inapparent infection of Japanese encephalitis (JE) among human population of Karb Anglong District of Assam.
Baruah HC, Kumar S, Satyanarayana K. J Commun Dis. 1993 Jun; 25(2):83-5.
Detection of virus specific IgG subclasses in Japanese encephalitis patients.
Indian J Med Res. 1991
Detection of virus specific IgG subclasses in Japanese encephalitis patients.
Thakare JP, Gore MM, Risbud AR, Banerjee K, Ghosh SN. Indian J Med Res. 1991 Sep; 93:271-6.
Review Acute flaccid paralysis as an unusual presenting symptom of Japanese encephalitis: a case report and review of the literature.
Infection. 2007
Review Acute flaccid paralysis as an unusual presenting symptom of Japanese encephalitis: a case report and review of the literature.
Chung CC, Lee SS, Chen YS, Tsai HC, Wann SR, Kao CH, Liu YC. Infection. 2007 Feb; 35(1):30-2.
Review Japanese encephalitis: surveillance and elimination effort in Japan from 1982 to 2004.
Jpn J Infect Dis. 2008
Review Japanese encephalitis: surveillance and elimination effort in Japan from 1982 to 2004.
Arai S, Matsunaga Y, Takasaki T, Tanaka-Taya K, Taniguchi K, Okabe N, Kurane I, Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance Program of Japan. Jpn J Infect Dis. 2008 Sep; 61(5):333-8.

To top • Home

TraveldoctorOnline 2001 • Disclaimer • webmaster

The contents within traveldoctoronline are presented only for informational purposes and cannot substitute for professional health care or any other medical treatment.All users of this website with health problems should be oblige always to consult their medical doctor before starting any treatment.