Fatalities due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Bihar

43 children died due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur of Bihar.

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) refers to a group of clinically similar neurologic manifestation mostly observed in children and young adults. The outbreak is usually reported during monsoons (June-October).

AES can be attributed to a wide range of virus, bacteria, fungi, and a range of agents. The most common cause for AES in India is Japanese encephalitis. AES is also attributed to scrub typhus, dengue, mumps, measles, even Nipah or Zika virus.

Studies suggest that the undernourished children are at greater risk of AES. The death of 43 children in Bihar suffering from AES was attributed by hypoglycemia which is a condition resulting in an abnormally low level of sugar in the blood or deficiency of sodium or potassium in the body.