Acute Encephalitis Syndrome – Causes, Symptoms 17/06/2019 – Posted in: Daily News

ACUTE ENCEPHALITIS SYNDROME

 

For: Preliminary & Mains

Topic cover: AES, Definition, Cause, health impacts, Symptoms, Precautions

 

News Flash

The death toll of children suffering from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur rose to 83.

  • The cause of death in most this year has been attributed to hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar level).
  • Undernourished children were suffering from AES and hypoglycaemia that coincided with litchi orchards.
  • AES is a syndrome, not a disease.

 

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome

AES affects the central nervous system, mostly in children and young adults. It starts with high fever, then hampers neurological functions causing mental disorientation, seizure, confusion, delirium, coma.

The disease outbreak is usually reported during monsoons.

 

Causes

  • It can be caused by virus, bacteria, and fungi.
  • Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is the most common cause of AES in India.
  • It is also caused by scrub typhus, mumps, measles, dengue, Nipah or Zika virus.
  • Methylene cyclopropyl glycine (MCPG) which has been known to be a content of litchi fruit has been shown to cause hypoglycaemia.

 

How does this spread?

  • AES spreads through contaminated surfaces.
  • Viruses such as enteroviruses may be contracted through contaminated water. Once infected the patient can infect more individuals through their secretions and saliva.

 

Symptoms

The most common symptoms include:

  • Dizziness, headache
  • Body aches
  • Fever, nausea, and vomiting
  • Fatigue, confusion, feeling anxious or acting or talking oddly
  • Vision impairment
  • Hearing loss
  • Back pain, weakness, trouble walking, or paralysis
  • Paralysis
  • Seizures or twitching
  • Unconsciousness

 

Why are children more at risk here?

The reason for this is the lack of nourishment, which leads to a mismatch in the blood sugar levels and compromises your immunity as well.

 

Treatment

  • The first treatment plan for this viral infection is hydration and increasing the glucose levels in the body.
  • Nutrition and control of fever and seizures form the backbone of treating this disease.

 

Source: Indian Express

 

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