Anatom3D
ENCZDE
Download

Japanese encephalitis

Encephalitis japonica · Japonská encefalitida

What it is

A mosquito-borne flavivirus of rural Asia, carried by pigs and wading birds; fewer than 1 in 100 infected fall ill, but a fifth to a third of those with encephalitis die and up to half of survivors keep lasting damage.

Symptoms & signs

  • Fever, headache and vomiting
  • confusion and drowsiness
  • seizures, especially in children
  • stiff, mask-like face, tremor (parkinsonism)
  • paralysis
  • coma

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Confusion, drowsiness or odd behaviour with fever
  • call 112 / 911 now Fits, stiff neck or weakness with fever
  • call 112 / 911 now Shaking, stiff face or trouble speaking
  • see a doctor soon Fever within 2 weeks of rural Asia

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Antibody test on spinal fluid
  • supportive and intensive care: seizures, brain swelling, breathing
  • no antiviral works
  • Vaccination (inactivated, live or chimeric) for residents and longer-stay travellers trials support

Natural & lifestyle

  • Nets and repellent at dusk
  • pig farms kept away from homes

Emerging & experimental

  • Ribavirin and interferon alfa — trials in India and Vietnam: no benefit not confirmed in trials
  • minocycline — a small trial without clear benefit
  • monoclonal antibodies

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Traditional Chinese herbal fever formulas — used in China; untested against the virus anecdotal / traditional
  • Homeopathic 'prevention' handed out in parts of India — no controlled evidence anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes