Acute Encephalitis Syndrome : Surged In Gujrat

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome : Surged In Gujrat

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) cases surged in Gujarat, leading to a significant health crisis that predominantly affected children and resulted in multiple fatalities.

• Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) is characterized by a sudden onset of high-grade fever, convulsions, altered sensorium, and multi-organ dysfunction. Other common symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases, respiratory failure with nasal bleeding.
• AES can be caused by a variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, as well as toxins and chemicals.
• The diagnosis of AES can be challenging due to the similarity of symptoms with other viral infections like Chandipura Vesiculovirus (CHPV), Enterovirus, Meningitis, and Japanese Encephalitis.

Specifics of the Gujarat outbreak:

• The outbreak spread over 26 of the 33 districts in Gujarat, affecting both rural and urban areas.
• Six major cities in the state reported cases, with some patients from neighbouring states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra also admitted to Gujarat hospitals.