A clinico-epidemiological study of acute encephalitis syndrome in a tertiary care hospital of Assam, India

Background and aims: India’s significant public health problem is Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES). The present study aims to assess the clinicoepidemiological profile of acute encephalitis syndrome in a tertiary care hospital of Assam, India. Methods: A single centre prospective observational study was conducted on AES patients admitted to the Department of Medicine in Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, Assam, India. Clinical features, disease outcome, CSF, biochemical and radiological profiles were studied. All cases above 12 years that fulfil the WHO case definition of AES were included. Informed/written consent was obtained before data collection. Prior Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Chi-square and Student’s t-test was used to determine significance. Statistical analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The p-value < 0.05 is considered significant. Results: Majority (67%) of the cases were male and belonged to the age group 30-40 years. A total of 126 patients (58%) tested positive for Japanese Encephalitis (JE). Fever (97%) and altered sensorium (90%) are the main clinical presentation. Most cases were reported from May to July (P <0.05). Out of 218 AES cases, 69 patients (33%) expired, 104 (47%) were recovered entirely, and 29(13%) had neurological sequelae. Conclusion: JE is still the primary cause of AES in this country. Early diagnosis, treatment and vaccination might help effective management and prevention of the disease.

Keywords: Acute Encephalitis syndrome, Japanese Encephalitis, Tezpur, Assam