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Volume 21, Number 2—February 2015
CME ACTIVITY - Research

Infectious Causes of Encephalitis and Meningoencephalitis in Thailand, 2003–2005

Sonja J. Olsen1Comments to Author , 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
Author affiliations: Thailand Ministry of Public Health–US CDC Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand (S.J. Olsen, S.F. Dowell); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (S.J. Olsen, A.P. Campbell, N. Khetsuriani, S.F. Dowell); Thailand Ministry of Health, Nonthaburi (K. Supawat); Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Bangkok (S. Liamsuwan, T. Chotpitayasunondh); Rajvithi Hospital, Bangkok (S. Laptikulthum); Prasat Neurological Institute of Thailand, Bangkok (A. Viriyavejakul, T. Tantirittisak); Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok (S. Tunlayadechanont, A. Visudtibhan); Prince Songkhla University Hospital, Hat Yai, Thailand (P. Vasiknanonte, S. Janjindamai); Hat Yai Hospital, Hat Yai (P. Boonluksiri, K. Rajborirug); Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok (V. Watanaveeradej)

Main Article

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.

Main Article

1These authors contributed equally to this article.

2Members are listed at the end of this article.

Page created: January 15, 2015
Page updated: January 15, 2015
Page reviewed: January 15, 2015
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