Japanese encephalitis can occur in adults

This is an automatically translated article.

Japanese encephalitis is an acute infection of the central nervous system that causes nerve cell damage. Japanese encephalitis is a common disease in children under 15 years of age, however, it still occurs in adults.

1. Does Japanese encephalitis occur in adults?

In 1933, Japanese scientists identified the causative agent of encephalitis in Japan, named it Japanese encephalitis virus, a type B Arbovirus, belonging to the family Togaviridae, genus Flavivirus. The main source of infection is wild birds and livestock. Birds and pigs are reservoirs of Japanese encephalitis virus in the natural environment. Mosquitoes will feed on the blood of infected birds and pigs, then bite humans and transmit the virus to humans.
So far, this is considered the only way to infect Japanese encephalitis, no human-to-human transmission has been recorded. Although pigs can be a reservoir for the virus, pigs do not suffer from encephalitis but act as a repository, maintaining the amount of virus that exists in nature.
All ages can get Japanese encephalitis, but mainly children under the age of 15. The age group most at risk is children between 2 and 6 years old, accounting for 75% of the total number of children infected with the disease. . Japanese encephalitis in adults rarely occurs because most people have acquired immunity but still have a certain incidence.
In Vietnam, Japanese encephalitis was first confirmed in 1952. Outbreaks are usually concentrated in wet rice growing areas combined with pig farming or in the semi-mountainous midland areas where many crops are grown. fruit and raising pigs. Japanese encephalitis can occur year-round, but peaks from May to July.

2. Japanese encephalitis symptoms in adults

Japanese encephalitis in adults has an average incubation period of 1 week (5-14 days). The disease has a sudden onset with symptoms of high fever 39-40 degrees, headache, nausea and vomiting. Japanese encephalitis in adults progresses very quickly, starting with high fever, then vomiting, stiff neck, increased muscle tone, convulsions, confusion, general lethargy, confusion confusion and then coma within the first 1-3 days.
The full-blown phase of Japanese encephalitis in adults is similar to that of children, lasting from 3 to 4 days to 6 to 7 days of the disease. The encephalitis virus invades the cerebrospinal parenchyma, where it damages nerve cells. Symptoms appear from the onset stage without remission but gradually increase in severity.
This stage is usually short, with prominent manifestations of brain damage and focal nerve damage such as: the patient has confusion, confusion, sometimes falls into a deep coma, partial paralysis or Paralysis of the whole extremities, epilepsy, circular muscle disorders, signs of autonomic disorders such as: profuse sweating, red and pale skin, breathing disturbances, increased secretions in the trachea, pulse rapidly and weakly, blood pressure drops, severely affecting vital functions. Patients who die are often in this stage, patients who pass this stage have a better prognosis.
Remission usually starts from the 2nd week onwards. Symptoms of fever gradually subside and fever disappear by about 10 days if no other bacterial superinfection occurs. Patients from a coma can gradually regain consciousness, with no more spasms, no vomiting, and no headaches.

3. Is Japanese encephalitis in adults dangerous?

Japanese encephalitis in adults has a high mortality rate and often leaves severe sequelae. Complications may appear as: Pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia due to bacterial superinfection; urinary tract infections caused by catheterization or catheter drainage; pressure ulcers and thrombophlebitis due to prolonged lying down and other nutritional disorders.
The sequelae of Japanese encephalitis in adults can be: Paralysis or paralysis of limbs, loss of language ability, choreography, parkinsonism, epilepsy, coordination disorder, memory loss severe, mental or sympathetic disturbances, metabolic disturbances, hearing loss or deafness...

4. Japanese encephalitis vaccine for adults

According to information provided by the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, for adults who have never been vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis, they should be vaccinated immediately according to the 3 basic injection schedule. If the primary dose has been administered before, only 1 booster dose is required. Japanese encephalitis vaccine should be given to adults about 1 month before the disease season, because the initial protective antibodies are only produced about 3 weeks after the 2nd dose of Japanese encephalitis vaccine and the protective antibodies against the Japanese encephalitis vaccine. version only appears 1 week at the earliest after the 3rd dose vaccine.
Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended for use in people living in endemic areas. In addition, tourists or workers, immigrants from non-immune areas, stay more than 1 month in rural areas and longer than 12 months in urban areas with Japanese encephalitis epidemic circulation should be vaccinated against.
People who have a hypersensitivity to the components of the vaccine or have had an allergy to the Japanese encephalitis vaccine in the previous vaccination, people with high fever or active infection, people with chronic diseases severe stage, blood cancer and malignancies, HIV has changed to AIDS and pregnant women are not vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis.
The vaccine requires 3 doses to create basal immunity, 0.5mL each. 2nd dose 1 week after 1st dose, 3rd dose 1 year after 2nd dose. Then every 3 years, one dose to maintain sustainable immunity.
Vinmec International General Hospital has been deploying immunization services with a variety of vaccines for different audiences, from infants, young children, adults, and women before and during pregnancy pregnant. Including the vaccine against Japanese encephalitis. The advantages of vaccination at Vinmec include:
Patients will be examined by specialist doctors, fully screened for physical and health problems, and advised on preventive vaccines and regimens. injecting equipment, monitoring and post-vaccination care before giving an indication to vaccinate according to the latest recommendations of the Ministry of Health & World Health Organization to ensure the best effectiveness and safety for children. . A team of experienced and professional pediatric doctors and nurses, understand children's psychology and apply effective pain relief methods for children during the vaccination process. 100% of vaccinated patients were monitored 30 minutes after injection and reassessed before leaving. Undertake medical supervision before, during and after vaccination at Vinmec Health System and always have an emergency team ready to coordinate with the vaccination department to handle cases of anaphylaxis, respiratory failure - circulatory arrest, ensuring Ensure timely and correct handling when incidents occur. Vaccines are imported and stored in a modern cold storage system, with a cold chain that meets GSP standards, keeping vaccines in the best conditions to ensure quality.

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