Japanese Encephalitis: Symptoms and Treatment

In Asia and the western Pacific, Japanese encephalitis virus is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable encephalitis. Though the risk of contracting Japanese Encephalitisis comparatively low for most travellers to Asia, there are also other factors governing the conditions under which the virus can be contracted. This disease is spread through mosquito bites. From the destination, length of travel, season, to a plethora of other activities, everything plays a significant role.Most people who are infected with Japanese Encephalitisdo not showcase any symptoms or portray only mild symptoms. However, there are a marginal percentage of infected people who develop inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), with symptoms including sudden onset of headache, high fever, coma, tremors, disorientation, and convulsions. About 1 in 4 cases are fatal. There are very few tricks to prevent getting infected by the Japanese Encephalitiswhich include using an EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and getting vaccinated.

Know your symptoms: Though they are often not determined without tests, some of the common Japanese Encephalitis Symptoms are listed below:

● Less than a total of 1% of people affected by Japanese Encephalitis virus show any major symptoms of clinical illness.

● The incubation period for infected people who show symptoms are 5-15 days.

● Initial symptoms come inclusive of fever, headache and vomiting.

● There can be alterations in the mental status, neurologic symptoms, fatigue, and movement disorders that may develop over the next few days. Especially among children, seizures are common.

The course of treatment:

● No specific course of Japanese EncephalitisTreatment is available but in totality hospitalization for supportive care and close observation is generally required.

● Treatment is symptomatic. Rest, fluids, and use of pain relievers and medication are used in unison to reduce fever and relieve other symptoms.

Options for vaccination:

There's only one JapaneseEncephalitis Vaccine (manufactured as IXIARO) which is licensed and available in the United States. The Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine is available privately to the citizens of the UK. Even though one is vaccinated, precautions and prevention of mosquito bites is a must.