A CLINICO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF ACUTE ENCEPHALITIS SYNDROME(AES) IN CHILDREN

Abstract

BACKGROUND:According to World Health Organization (WHO) Denition- Clinically a case of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome is dened as a person of any age at any time of year, with the acute onset of fever and a change in mental status such as confusion, disorientation, coma or inability to talk and/or new onset of seizures. Initially Tuberculosis meningoencephalitis and bacterial meningoencephalitis were common causes but now there is a change in paradigm of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome to viral meningoencephalitis. METHODS: A descriptive observational study was undertaken at the department of pediatrics,in a tertiary care hospital in a city in Western Maharashtra. Children aged 0- 12 years fullling the WHO denition of AES were included as study subjects. Detailed history for necessary demographic characteristics and clinical examination ndings were tabulated and analyzed.To establish the relationship between two quantitative variables relative statistical analysis was applied. RESULTS:Atotal of 60 cases formed as study subjects. With higher proportion of subjects were between 5 to 12 years (46.7%).Majority of them being males 33 (55%).A majority of cases were reported during post-monsoon period 26 (43.3%).All cases had altered sensorium, 90% cases had fever. With the use of CSF parameters majority of cases had viral encephalitis(58.3%), followed by bacterial encephalitis(26.7%).Out of 60 cases 53 cases(88.3%) were immunized. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of AES cases in this study was 1.55%. Most common age group affected is below 5 years to 12 years. Male children are more affected than females with a ratio of 1.4:1 .Most common presenting symptom was altered sensorium (100%) followed by fever (90%).Meningeal sign was present in 18 patients (30%).Out of 60 cases viral aetiology was found in 35 cases (58.3%), followed by bacterial aetiology in 16(26.7%).