Dwindling incidence of Japanese encephalitis and rising scrub typhus encephalitis: A new scenario to consider in Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Background: Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is a major public health problem, which is caused by several agents, among which viral causes predominate. Japanese encephalitis (JE) has remained a major cause of AES in Uttar Pradesh. Aim: This study aims to identify the current status of JE in a public sector hospital of UP. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary hospital of Eastern UP. A total of 63 patients presenting with AES over a period of 1 year were included in our study. General characteristics and clinical features were noted. Routine investigations were done, and cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples were sent for malaria, JE, scrub typhus (ST), dengue chikungunya, and leptospira. Results: About 46% of cases had a history of 2 days of illness before presentation. About 46% of cases were vaccinated for JE. Diagnosis could not be established in 50.7% of cases. About 38.0% of patients had ST encephalitis. JE was not detected in any patient. Conclusion: The study illustrates how vaccination can change the dynamics of an epidemic. And also, we were able to identify the upcoming threat. Azithromycin needs to be included in the empirical treatment of AES in the area.