PREDICTORS OF MORTALITY IN JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS.

Bhaskar K. Nath; Abhishrut P. Jog; Prithwiraj Bhattacharjee; Polok Das

Volume : VI, Issue : VII, July - 2017

PREDICTORS OF MORTALITY IN JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS.

Bhaskar K. Nath, Abhishrut P. Jog, Prithwiraj Bhattacharjee, Polok Das

Abstract :

Introduction– Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a mosquito–borne viral infection of the central nervous system. Mortality rate is about 30 %. The study assesses the significance of the clinical and biochemical parameters in predicting the mortality in JE.

Materials– Over a period of 3 years, from 2013 to 2015, a total of 81 patients were diagnosed with JE. The cases were followed up for 1 year regarding mortality.

Observations– Loss to follow up– 9. There were 20 deaths (27.7%). The parameters of Seizures, GCS< 8 and hyponatremia, were present in 73.68%, 76.47% and 57.89% of expired patients respectively. Statistical analysis using Pearson χ²testing, suggested significant association with mortality in patients having any or all of these three abnormalities.

Conclusions– The parameters of seizures, GCS<8 and hyponatremia are strong predictors of mortality in JE, individually or together.