Japanese encephalitis in children in Bellary Karnataka.

One hundred and fifty cases of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in children below 12 years of age admitted to the Headquarters Hospital, Bellary Medical College during October, 1986 to January, 1987 were studied. The youngest child affected was 1 year old. The ratio of male to female was 2:1. Hindu patients (93.33%) were significantly more than Muslim patients (6.6%). The average duration of illness prior to hospitalisation was 4.2 days (SD +/- 1.9 days). Fever, headache and/or vomiting were common presenting symptoms at the onset of illness. Onset of illness was acute or sub-acute in 105 cases (70%). CSF examination showed pleocytosis with lymphocytic reaction and normal sugar. Japanese encephalitis virus was isolated from the brain biopsy tissue in one case and the seropositivity rate for JE was 50%. The mortality was 26% and was directly related to younger age, longer duration of illness prior to admission and deeper grade of coma at the time of admission. Moderate to severe sequalae were seen in 31 patients (28.82%). The mean duration of hospital stay was 8 days.