ENCEPHALITIS

Encephalitis: 

• It is an inflammation and swelling of the brain which is caused 
  • either by an infection invading the brain (Infectious Encephalitis) or
    
    
  • through the immune system attacking the brain in error (Post-infectious or Autoimmune Encephalitis). 
    
    
  
  
  
• The infection is mainly caused by Rarely bacteria, fungus and parasites can also cause it. 
  
  

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES): 

• It is characterized by an acute onset of fever and clinical neurological manifestation that includes mental confusion, disorientation, delirium, or coma. 
  
  
• The most common causes of acute viral encephalitis are Japanese encephalitis virus, West Nile virus (WNV), Chandipura virus (CHPV) etc.
  
  
• AES is reported mainly from Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu which contributes approximately 80% of cases.
  
  

Japanese Encephalitis (JE):

• It is a brain infection caused by the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV).
  
  
• JEV (a virus from the family FLAVIVIRIDAE) is transmitted to humans through bites from infected rice field breeding mosquitoes of the Culex species (mainly Culex tritaeniorhynchus).
  
  
• There is no transmission from person to person and therefore patients do not need to be isolated. Also one can get JE from animals other than domestic pigs & Wild birds or from insects other than mosquitoes. 
  
  
• This disease is most prevalent in Southeast Asia, South Asia and East Asia. 
  
  
• Although individuals of any age may be affected, but JE primarily affects children. 
  
  
• Treatment: There is no specific therapy. Intensive supportive therapy is indicated.