Abstract
A cross-sectional study was done on 100 consecutive paediatric patients presenting with acute encephalitis syndrome. The clinico-laboratory features of all patients were recorded in a prestructured performa. Cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples were tested for: Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus; Chandipura virus; coxsackie virus; dengue virus; enterovirus 76; and West Nile virus. Twenty-two (22.0%) patients were confirmed JE cases and 17% had parasitic or bacteriological aetiology. The remaining 61 cases (61.0%) in which no viral aetiological agent was found were grouped as non-JE cases. Peripheral vascular failure, splenomegaly and hypotonia were distinguishing clinical features found in the non-JE patients. A high mortality of 26.5% was seen in patients with confirmed or presumptive viral encephalitis (22/83). A fatal outcome was independently associated with peripheral vascular failure and pallor at the time of admission. Early recognition of these signs may help clinicians to manage these cases.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.