Japanese Encephalitis in a 7‐Month‐Old Japanese Boy

Abstract

A 7‐month‐old Japanese boy was diagnosed as having meningo‐encephalitis with anterior horn cell damage. The complement fixation (CF) and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests showed increased antibody titers against Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus, but HI antibody in the mother's serum was not increased. It appears that the lack of JE‐antibodies from the mother may have resulted in increased JE viral infectivity in the patient. A decrease in the incidence of antibodies against various viruses in women of childbearing age may lead to increased rates of severe viral infection in infants.

Zoonotic encephalitides caused by arboviruses: transmission and epidemiology of alphaviruses and flaviviruses

“…An estimated 50,000 cases occur every year where the most acutely infected patients are children or non-immune individuals [136]. Clinical infections are severe with a case fatality rate of 30% or severe neurologic sequels in up to 50% of the patients [137].…”