-
Definition: Japanese Encephalitis (JE) - A mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the JE virus, leading to inflammation of the brain.
-
Causes:
- Transmitted by: → Culex mosquitoes → Mainly Culex tritaeniorhynchus
- Primary hosts: → Pigs → Water buffalo
- Secondary hosts: → Humans → Monkeys
-
Types:
- No major subtypes
-
Pathogenesis:
- → Virus enters through mosquito bite
- → Replicates in the bloodstream
- → Reaches the central nervous system (CNS)
- → Causes inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
- → Can lead to neurological symptoms
-
Morphology:
- → Viral particles are spherical
- → Size: 40-60 nm
- → Enveloped
- → Positive-sense RNA genome
-
Clinical Features:
- → Incubation period: 5-15 days
- → Fever, headache, and vomiting
- → Seizures, confusion, and altered consciousness
- → Weakness, paralysis, and coma
- → Can be fatal if not treated promptly
-
Complications:
- → Meningitis
- → Encephalitis
- → Seizures
- → Coma
- → Death
-
Diagnosis:
- → Clinical features
- → Laboratory tests: → Blood tests for antibodies or antigens → CSF analysis → PCR for viral RNA
-
Management:
- → Supportive care
- → Rest
- → Fluid therapy
- → Management of seizures and coma
- → Vaccination for preventing the disease
-
Memory Trick: "Virus enters through the bite of a mosquito, travels to the brain, causing inflammation and leading to neurological symptoms, it's a JE, don't you forget!"