A study on the Sequelae cases of Japanese encephalitis in Perambalur district, Tamilnadu

The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection leaves a considerable proportion of children with life long sequelae of one or other form. Besides high case fatality rate, the Japanese encephalitis - epidemics, result in variable frequency of sequelae like mental impairment, severe emotional instability, personality changes and paralysis. A retrospective study had been undertaken to analyse different forms of sequelae among 49 partly recovered JE- cases in Perambalur, a Japanese encephalitis - prone district of Tamilnadu from 1990 through 1999. Motor sequelae, behavioural sequelae, intellectual sequelae and other neurological sequelae were the major forms of sequelae observed. Speech disorder was a striking clinical sequelae (69.4%) recorded in this study. Ataxia was found in 40.8% of cases. Attention deficit (36.7%) and memory deficit (36.7%) were the other two major types of sequelae among the study subjects. Limb paralysis was found among 34.7% of the sequelae patients. This study gives an approximate sequelae rates and stresses the need for regular follow up and due attention to the Japanese encephalitis sequelae cases, as the morbidity exists over a considerable period, though the recovery of sequelae progresses with time.