Epidemiology of acute encephalopathy in Japan, with emphasis on the association of viruses and syndromes.

Abstract

A research committee supported by the Japanese government conducted a nationwide survey on the epidemiology of acute encephalopathy in Japan using a questionnaire. A total of 983 cases reportedly had acute encephalopathy during the past 3 years, 2007-2010. Among the pathogens of the preceding infection, influenza virus was the most common, followed by human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and rotavirus. Among syndromes of acute encephalopathy, acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD) was the most frequent, followed by clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS), acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) and hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome (HSES). Influenza virus was strongly associated with ANE and MERS, HHV-6 with AESD, and rotavirus with MERS. Mortality was high in ANE and HSES, but was low in AESD, MERS and HHV-6-associated encephalopathy. Neurologic sequelae were common in AESD and ANE, but were absent in MERS.

• Authors: Ai Hoshino, Makiko Saitoh, Akira Oka, Akihisa Okumura, Masaya Kubota, Yoshiaki Saito, Jun-Ichi Takanashi, Shinichi Hirose, Takanori Yamagata, Hideo Yamanouchi, Masashi Mizuguchi
• Journal: Brain & development (Brain Dev) Vol. 34 Issue 5 Pg. 337-43 (May 2012) ISSN: 1872-7131 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 21924570 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adolescent
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Encephalitis (epidemiology, etiology)
• Female
• Health Surveys
• Humans
• Incidence
• Infant
• Influenza, Human (complications)
• Japan (epidemiology)
• Male
• Roseolovirus Infections (complications)
• Rotavirus Infections (complications)