A Study on Clinical Features, Aetiology, Outcomes and Predictors of Mortality and Morbidity in Children With Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Eastern India

Abstract

BACKGROUND Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) is a common condition leading to hospitalisation of children in India. Infective aetiology remains the most common cause till date. Various studies have been conducted to find out the aetiology, but very few studies on the predictors of mortality and morbidity, particularly from east India.This study was conducted to find out the causes of AES in children, clinical features, short-term outcome and predictors of morbidity and mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODSA prospective, observational study was carried out including children aged between 1 -12 yrs. with AES admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care hospital in eastern India. Duration of study was one year (June 2016 -May 2017). Total 109 children were enrolled. Aetiology and outcome were evaluated. Data was analysed by SPSS version 16.0, IBM, USA. Chi-square test was applied at 5% significance level. RESULTSAmong 109 children, 11 children left against medical advice. Total 98 children were included in this study. Out of these 40 (40.8%) were below 5 yrs., 57 (58.2%) were male and 41 (41.8%) were female. Apart from fever most common presenting feature was vomiting (86.7%) followed by convulsions (84.7%) and altered sensorium (82.7%). Bacterial meningoencephalitis was the most common aetiology (45.9%) followed by viral encephalitis (29.6%) and in 24.5% cases no aetiology could be identified. Most common sequelae were seizure (28.9%) followed by weakness (11.8%) and aphasia (9.2%). Outcome was complete recovery (52%), sequelae (25.5%) and death (22.5%). Low GCS < 8, shock and patient requiring mechanical ventilation were associated with poor outcome. CONCLUSIONBacterial meningoencephalitis and viral encephalitis are common causes of AES. Low GCS, shock and mechanical ventilation were independent predictors for mortality in children. KEY WORDSAES, Outcome, Mortality, Sequelae. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Biswas R, Bhattacharya T, Mondal T, et al. A study on clinical features, aetiology, outcomes and predictors of mortality and morbidity in children with acute encephalitis syndrome in eastern India.

Homoeopathic management of acute encephalitis syndrome

“…A study was conducted on AES in eastern India where 98 children were treated and the most common presenting features met with were vomiting, convulsions and altered sensorium. In the study bacterial meningoencephalitis was the most common aetiology followed by viral encephalitis [11] . 2.…”