Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

AES (Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) is a critical public health concern in India. Also known as  ‘Chamki Fever’ or Litchi Virus, AES is a health condition that mainly affects young adults and children and causes inflammation, irritation, or swelling of the brain. Most importantly, it can lead to a significant number of deaths. 
The chief cause of acute encephalitis syndrome in India is the Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV). Besides, Influenza A virus, Herpes simplex virus, Parvovirus B4, dengue, Epstein-Barr virus, Chandipura virus, S. pneumoniae, etc., are responsible for the sporadic spread of the disease in the country. 
The first case of JEV-induced AES was recorded in India in 1955 in Tamil Nadu (formerly called the State of Madras). According to the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Program (NVBDCP), over 10,400 cases of AES and more than 630 deaths were recorded from seventeen states in India in 2018. Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Tamil Nadu add to the maximum number of cases.
Apart from sources like fungus, bacteria, chemicals, parasites, toxins, and spirochetes reported to be the cause of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome over the past few decades, viruses have also been attributed mainly to be the cause of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in India.  In addition to viral encephalitis, severe forms of toxoplasmosis and leptospirosis can cause the Infections. Apart from this, the causative agent of encephalitis syndrome varies with geographical location and season.

What is Encephalitis Syndrome?

Encephalitis is a severe health condition in which the active tissues of the brain are inflamed due to an autoimmune response or an infection. As a result of the inflammation, the brain swells. It may lead to headaches, delirium, stiffness in the neck, light sensitivity, seizures, and confusion.
Encephalitis affects around 10 to 15 persons in 100,000 every year. Also, over 250,000 people have been diagnosed with this condition in the last 10 years in the USA alone. Although encephalitis can affect anyone, young people are more prone to this condition.

What is the Link Between AES and Litchi Fruit?

The logic behind the link between Litchi fruit consumption and AES is that when children eat large amounts of unripe litchi fruits (on an empty stomach), it may lead to hypoglycemic encephalopathy, a brain injury that causes prolonged or severe hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. Unripe litchi has the toxins hypoglycin A and methylene cyclopropyl glycine (MCPG) that causes vomiting if ingested in large quantities. An India-U.S. team confirmed the role of the toxin MCPG in 2017.
Well-nourished children are not affected by the consumption of Litchi fruit (Litchi Virus). AES affects only undernourished children who consumed litchi fruit the previous day and went to bed on an empty stomach.
However, while linking litchi fruit to AES (Litchi Virus) deaths (owing to the presence of infectious organism) is well documented, this alone cannot be attributed as the main cause of death. Recent findings by specialists have narrowed down reasons for Encephalitis Syndrome to multiple other factors like humidity, malnutrition, heat, and poor hygiene.

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in India

When it comes to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in India, viruses are considered the chief cause for the same. Other causative organisms, including parasites, fungus, bacteria, spirochetes, toxins, and harmful chemicals, have also been recorded over a couple of decades.
The major cause of acute encephalitis syndrome in India is the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Besides, Influenza A virus, Herpes simplex virus, Parvovirus B4, dengue, Epstein-Barr virus, Chandipura virus, S. pneumoniae, among others, are responsible for the sporadic spread of the disease in India. 
The first case of JEV-induced AES was recorded in India in 1955 in Tamil Nadu (then Madras). As per the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP), in 2018, over 10,400 cases of AES and more than 630 deaths were recorded from seventeen states of India.  
Most AES cases in India were reported from Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Tamil Nadu.
The signs and symptoms typically include:

• High Fever
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Sensitivity to light
• Stiff neck and back
• Memory loss
• Problems with speech or hearing
• Drowsiness
• In some severe cases, paralysis and coma

AES complications may include memory loss, coma, and even death.

Who is Affected?

• It mostly affects people below 15 years.
• The epidemic zone of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) includes the Gangetic plain such as Bihar, Assam, east UP, West Bengal, and some parts of Tamil Nadu.

Your doctor is likely to perform a physical and medical diagnosis and recommend the following tests:

• Brain imaging, such as CT scan or MRI. 
• Spinal tap or lumbar puncture.
• EEG (Electroencephalogram).
• Brain biopsy.
• Blood tests.

We can treat Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) using antibiotics, antiviral medications, and supportive care. The treatment for hypoglycemia includes supplying dextrose, a simple sugar similar to glucose, intravenously. Other measures include:

• Ensuring children eat cooked meals before going to bed.
• Keeping children under parental supervision from eating unripe and too many litchis.

What are the Possible Complications of AES?

Inflammation in the brain tissues is likely to damage the brain. And it might lead to coma, and in the worst-case scenario, death. Other complications may include the following:

• A lack of coordination of muscles. 
• Fatigue that persists.
• Memory issues. 
• Personality changes. 
• Paralysis.
• Speech, vision, and hearing impairment.

AES or Litchi Virus can be prevented by:

• Facilitating proper sanitation facilities. 
• Increasing access to safe drinking water.
• Improving the nutritional status of children at risk of encephalitis syndrome.
• Reducing mosquito density.
• Using personal protection against mosquito bites through mosquito nets treated with insecticides. 
• Wearing covered and loose-fitting clothes.
• Using mosquito repellents to avoid mosquito bites. 
• Maintaining a safe distance between animal sheds (especially piggeries) and human dwellings. 
• Getting vaccinated (according to the Government of India guidelines, two doses of the JE/AES vaccine are approved – one with the measles vaccine at nine months and the second with DPT booster between 16 and 24 months).

How does acute encephalitis spread?

The mode of transmission of AES varies, depending on the causes. Some causes are:

• Japanese encephalitis spreads through mosquito bites.
• Tick-borne conditions transmit via ticks.

Also Read About: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

• Some cases of encephalitis are due to viral, bacterial, or fungal infection in the brain (primary). 
• Some cases of encephalitis result as an autoimmune response where your immune system attacks the cells in your brain (secondary). 

What bacteria causes encephalitis?

The bacteria that cause encephalitis include the following:

• Meningococcal.
• Mycoplasma.
• Listeria.
• Pneumococcal.

What is the difference between Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and Encephalitis?

Encephalitis means inflammation of the brain tissues. It leads to various signs and symptoms, including headache, fever, seizures, muscle weakness, etc. When the onset of these symptoms is acute, it is known as acute encephalitis syndrome.
References:
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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