Chapters authored
The Global Distribution and Burden of Dengue and Japanese Encephalitis Co-Infection in Acute Encephalitis Syndrome
Dengue is widespread throughout the tropics globally in more than hundred countries and coincides with various climatic factors for co-infection with other flaviviral infections of the central nervous system (CNS). Dengue and Japanese encephalitis virus co-infection are highly prevalent, with diagnosis dilemma including significant mortality and morbidity in Southeast Asia. Both dengue and Japanese encephalitis transmissions intensify during the rainy season, during which the vector population increases. CNS involvement during dengue and Japanese encephalitis co-infection-associated acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is still poorly understood, and therefore, there is a desperate need to understand the etiology, therapeutics, clinical management, and prevention of these tropically neglected diseases. AES can be differentiated from other etiologies of encephalopathy through considering its essential features: sudden onset of fever, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) comprising inflammatory cells, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based confirmation, and presence of pathogen or pathogen-specific antibodies. Complementary and alternative medicine is progressively being used globally and can be effective for the overall management of this co-infection.
Part of the book: Current Topics in Neglected Tropical Diseases