Volume 21, Number 2—February 2015
CME ACTIVITY - Research
Infectious Causes of Encephalitis and Meningoencephalitis in Thailand, 2003–2005
Sonja J. Olsen1
, Angela P. Campbell1, Krongkaew Supawat, Sahas Liamsuwan, Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, Somsak Laptikulthum, Akravudh Viriyavejakul, Tasanee Tantirittisak, Supoch Tunlayadechanont, Anannit Visudtibhan, Punnee Vasiknanonte, Supachai Janjindamai, Pairoj Boonluksiri, Kiatsak Rajborirug, Veerachai Watanaveeradej, Nino Khetsuriani, Scott F. Dowell, and Thailand Encephalitis Surveillance Team
, Angela P. Campbell1, Krongkaew Supawat, Sahas Liamsuwan, Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, Somsak Laptikulthum, Akravudh Viriyavejakul, Tasanee Tantirittisak, Supoch Tunlayadechanont, Anannit Visudtibhan, Punnee Vasiknanonte, Supachai Janjindamai, Pairoj Boonluksiri, Kiatsak Rajborirug, Veerachai Watanaveeradej, Nino Khetsuriani, Scott F. Dowell, and Thailand Encephalitis Surveillance Team
Table 4
Admission characteristics of 149 case patients with encephalitis, according to etiologic classification, Thailand, 2003–2005*
| Characteristic | Etiologic classification |
p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirmed/probable, n = 54 | Possible/unknown, n = 95 | ||
| Male sex, no. (%) | 33 (61) | 51 (54) | 0.38 |
| Age, y, median (range) |
9 (0–74) |
17 (0–82) |
0.10 |
| Time between onset of neurologic symptoms and admission, d, median (range) | 1 (8–4)† | 1 (12–7)† | 0.35 |
| Time between onset of fever and admission, d, median (range) | 4 (31–1)† | 4 (35–2)† | 0.33 |
| Temperature, °C, median (range) |
38.0 (36.0–42.0) |
37.7 (35.5–40.2) |
0.03 |
| Symptoms during illness, no. (%) | |||
| Respiratory | 12 (22) | 27 (28) | 0.41 |
| Gastrointestinal | 23 (43) | 36 (38) | 0.57 |
| Rash |
4 (7.4) |
14 (15) |
0.30 |
| Glasgow Coma Scale score, no. (%) | 0.44 | ||
| <8 | 7 (13) | 18 (19) | |
| 9–12 | 13 (24) | 27 (28) | |
| >13 | 34 (63) | 50 (53) | |
| Mean (SD) |
12 (3.2) |
12 (3.7) |
0.37 |
| Neurologic signs/symptoms, no. (%) | |||
| Alteration of consciousness | 35 (65) | 63 (66) | 0.85 |
| Lethargy | 27 (50) | 45 (47) | 0.76 |
| Seizure | 19 (35) | 48 (50) | 0.07 |
| Focal neurologic signs | 19 (35) | 32 (34) | 0.89 |
| Personality change | 22 (41) | 39 (41) | 0.97 |
| Somnolence | 23 (43) | 34 (36) | 0.44 |
| Loss of consciousness | 8 (15) | 28 (30) | 0.04 |
| Extreme irritability | 9 (17) | 23 (24) | 0.28 |
| Coma | 10 (19) | 15 (16) | 0.67 |
| Ataxia | 2 (3.7) | 6 (6.3) | 0.71 |
| Headache | 29 (54) | 45 (47) | 0.46 |
| Stiff neck |
29 (54) |
29 (31) |
0.01 |
| Pentobarbital or paralytic medications for intractable seizures | 15 (28) | 22 (23) | 0.53 |
| CSF pleocytosis, no. (%) |
49 (91) |
76 (80) |
0.09 |
| Abnormal MRI/CT/cranial U/S findings, no. (%) | 23/31 (74) | 57/69 (83) | 0.33 |
| Abnormal EEG, no. (%) |
6/9 (67) |
22/30 (73) |
0.69 |
| Length of hospital stay, median days (range) | 13 (1–180) | 16 (1–128) | 0.71 |
| Intensive care unit admission, no. (%) | 15 (28) | 33 (35) | 0.38 |
| Died, no. (%)‡ | 2 (3.7) | 13 (14) | 0.09 |
*CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; EEG, electroencephalogram, MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; CT, computed tomography; U/S, ultrasonography.
†Ranges indicate no. days before and after hospital admission.
‡All but 1 patient died while hospitalized.
1These authors contributed equally to this article.
2Members are listed at the end of this article.
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