DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF ACUTE FEBRILE ENCEPHALOPATHY CASES IN PEDIATRIC AGE GROUP PATIENTS: A STUDY FROM WESTERN RAJASTHAN

Abstract

Acute Febrile Encephalopathy is a clinical term used to describe patients presenting with short febrile illnesses with altered mental states. Demographic distribution plays an essential role in the diagnosis of viral etiologies. One hundred ve suspected AFE cases were enrolled in the study. A detailed history by predesigned performa and laboratory investigations was obtained for data collection. Viral etiology was diagnosed in 32 (30.48%) cases. The male to female ratio was 1.39:1. Total 56.25% of positive cases were from the lower class, 28.13% from the middle class, and 15.63% from the upper class. 24 (75%) cases from rural, while only 8 (25%) of the urban population showed viral etiologies. In 19 (59.4%) cases were either history of incomplete vaccination or not vaccinated, 13 (40.6%) cases had a history of complete immunization among positive cases. The predominant clinical feature was fever (100%) followed by seizures 66(62.86%), vomiting 37(35.24%), headache 14(13.33%), paresis in 16(15.24%) and altered sensorium in 29(27.62%), respectively. To conclude, the etiologic panorama of AFE varies with several factors such as time and demographical location, age, and immunization status. There is an urgent need to conduct more studies to prole the viral etiologies according to their prevalence in geographical areas so the treatment can be tailored accordingly and prophylaxis treatment or immunization can be boosted in the population at risk of getting the disease.