TY - JOUR AU - Olsen, Sonja AU - Campbell, Angela AU - Supawat, Krongkaew AU - Liamsuwan, Sahas AU - Chotpitayasunondh, Tawee AU - Laptikulthum, Somsak AU - Viriyavejakul, Akravudh AU - Tantirittisak, Tasanee AU - Tunlayadechanont, Supoch AU - Visudtibhan, Anannit AU - Vasiknanonte, Punnee AU - Janjindamai, Supachai AU - Boonluksiri, Pairoj AU - Rajborirug, Kiatsak AU - Watanaveeradej, Veerachai AU - Khetsuriani, Nino AU - Dowell, Scott T1 - Infectious Causes of Encephalitis and Meningoencephalitis in Thailand, 2003–2005 T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2015 VL - 21 IS - 2 SP - 280 SN - 1080-6059 AB - Acute encephalitis is a severe neurologic syndrome. Determining etiology from among ≈100 possible agents is difficult. To identify infectious etiologies of encephalitis in Thailand, we conducted surveillance in 7 hospitals during July 2003–August 2005 and selected patients with acute onset of brain dysfunction with fever or hypothermia and with abnormalities seen on neuroimages or electroencephalograms or with cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid were tested for >30 pathogens. Among 149 case-patients, median age was 12 (range 0–83) years, 84 (56%) were male, and 15 (10%) died. Etiology was confirmed or probable for 54 (36%) and possible or unknown for 95 (64%). Among confirmed or probable etiologies, the leading pathogens were Japanese encephalitis virus, enteroviruses, and Orientia tsutsugamushi. No samples were positive for chikungunya, Nipah, or West Nile viruses; Bartonella henselae; or malaria parasites. Although a broad range of infectious agents was identified, the etiology of most cases remains unknown. KW - encephalitis KW - etiology KW - brain diseases KW - tropical medicine KW - Thailand KW - viruses KW - bacteria KW - malaria KW - parasites DO - 10.3201/eid2102.140291 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/21/2/14-0291_article ER - End of Reference