Abstract:
Background: A study was conducted in VIMS hospital at
Bellary during the epidemic of August 2004 to July 2005.
Objectives: To know the hospital based incidence of J.E and to
study the age and sex pattern of the infection in the paediatric
age group.
Materials and Methods: 82 children admitted to the Paedi
atric ward, VIMS, Bellary with clinical diagnosis of acute viral
encephalitis, during the epidemic of August 2004 to July 2005
were studied. After pooling the samples, they were subjected
to J.E. MAC ELISA.
Results: Out of 82 patients tested by J.E. MAC ELISA, 19 (24%)
were positive for J.E. and 12 (14.63%) were positive for flaviviral
infection. CSF was positive in all 19 cases with 100% positivity.
Serum was positive in 10 cases with 15.87% positivity. This
indicates that there are significant number of J.E. cases in
Bellary emphasising the rampant nature and stressing the
measures to be taken to overwhelm this devastating disease.
Conclusion: The hospital based incidence of J.E. was found to
be significant in the area of the study. The paediatric age group,
between 4to 6 years was found to be most predisposed to
J.E., probably because of low immunity in the age group. Male
predominance was seen with male to female ratio of 1.42:1.
Illiteracy, low socio economic status and living in unhygienic
conditions near rice fields contributed to the high incidence
of J.E. in and around Bellary. The serological results clearly
establish the etiology. Isolation of JEV from specimens would
have strengthened the diagnosis.