Japanese encephalitis 'attacks' adults

In Hanoi, medical facilities have recorded many cases of Japanese encephalitis in adults, a disease that usually only appears in children under 15 years old.

Japanese encephalitis begins to "attack" adults

Rapid attack, severe illness

Patient Nguyen HY (20 years old, Dong Anh, Hanoi) was admitted to the hospital on June 28. According to the medical records, Ms. Y. was admitted to the hospital in a state of lethargy, lack of contact, weakness and paralysis of the limbs, accompanied by convulsions. Three days before being admitted to the hospital, the patient had a high fever and chills. Only two days later, she fell into a state of impaired consciousness, lethargy, incontinence, and weakness on the right side of her body.

The patient was admitted to Dong Anh General Hospital, diagnosed with encephalitis and transferred to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases. After admission, the patient had a continuous high fever, then gradually fell into a coma and had to be put on a ventilator.

Doctor Nguyen Trung Cap, Deputy Head of the Emergency Department of the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said: “The patient’s prognosis is poor because he is in a deep coma. Even with the best treatment, if he survives, he may still have neurological sequelae and paralysis. Diagnostic tests confirmed Japanese encephalitis.”

Previously, another patient, Chu Thi T. (18 years old, Ba Vi, Hanoi), was admitted to the hospital on June 17. Four days before admission, the patient also had a headache, and after a day, she developed a high fever of 40 degrees, accompanied by chills, nausea, and vomiting. The patient was transferred to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases from Ba Vi District Hospital after being diagnosed with encephalitis.

Doctor Cap said that when admitted to the hospital, patient T. was sluggish, lethargic, and had a persistent high fever. Muscle weakness gradually increased. On the 6th day after the onset of the disease, progressive paralysis appeared, reaching the respiratory muscles and requiring a ventilator. This case was also tested for Japanese encephalitis.

Most recently, a 19-year-old patient (in Ung Hoa, Hanoi) was also suspected of having Japanese encephalitis. This patient was hospitalized after two days of high fever, headache and coma. Diagnostic imaging results showed brain edema.

dangerous virus

According to Dr. Cap, Japanese encephalitis has been rare for a long time because there is a vaccine and the disease usually only occurs in children under 15 years old.

“Japanese encephalitis virus is dangerous because it directly attacks the brain, causing nerve damage and serious illness. Patients with Japanese encephalitis have a high rate of sequelae and death,” said Dr. Cap.

Japanese encephalitis vaccine helps prevent the disease effectively. Children from 1 year old have been fully vaccinated to be protected for a long time.

Mr. Tran Dac Phu, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, said that June - August is the time of encephalitis epidemic season, including Japanese encephalitis. Cases with signs of suspected encephalitis: high fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, neck pain, convulsions should go to a medical facility immediately.

According to Mr. Phu, the Japanese encephalitis vaccine helps prevent the disease effectively. This vaccine is given to children from 1 year old. Getting enough doses of vaccination helps provide long-term protection. The Japanese encephalitis vaccine is currently provided free of charge to children by the Expanded Immunization Program. Adults can also be vaccinated according to the advice of medical staff.

“Cases of Japanese encephalitis are usually under 15 years old. Recently, the appearance of cases in adults needs to be noted by the community and detected early for timely treatment to avoid the risk of death and sequelae of paralysis and brain impairment,” Mr. Phu warned.

According to Thanh Nien