Disability from Japanese encephalitis in Cambodia and Viet Nam

J Trop Pediatr. 2011 Aug;57(4):241-4. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmp133. Epub 2010 Jan 12.

Abstract

A cohort of Japanese encephalitis (JE) survivors in Cambodia and Viet Nam were assessed at least 4 months after hospital discharge in order to understand the extent of disability after JE. We used a simple assessment tool which focuses on the impact on daily life. In total, 64 disability assessments were conducted: 38 in Cambodia and 26 in Viet Nam. In Cambodia, 4 (11%) children had severe sequelae, suggesting the children would likely be dependent, 15 (39%) had moderate sequelae and 17 (45%) had mild sequelae. In Viet Nam, two (8%) persons had severe sequelae, five (19%) had moderate sequelae and eight (31%) had mild sequelae. In many JE-endemic areas there are no multi-disciplinary teams with sophisticated equipment to assess patients after JE disease. This assessment tool can assist with patient management and generate data to support the need for programmes to prevent disease and improve outcomes for survivors.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cambodia / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child Behavior Disorders / diagnosis
  • Child Behavior Disorders / etiology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology*
  • Cognition Disorders / mortality
  • Cohort Studies
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Disabled Children* / statistics & numerical data
  • Encephalitis, Japanese / complications*
  • Encephalitis, Japanese / diagnosis*
  • Encephalitis, Japanese / mortality
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Prognosis
  • Quality of Life*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sentinel Surveillance
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Vietnam / epidemiology