Late diagnosis, unhygienic conditions major causes of JE deaths: Doc

BAREILLY: Late diagnosis, unhygienic conditions and dependence on antibiotics are some of the reasons for high fatality rate among patients afflicted by Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in the country, according to a doctor who is here to participate at the two-day medical conference held at SRMS Medical College.

A large number of lives are lost every year to JE in eastern UP, Bihar and other parts of the country.

Speaking with TOI, Dr Raj Chandrappa, who practices in Birmingham in the United Kingdom, told TOI, “Administering antibiotics is not the way to treat Japanese Encephalitis. We need to allow the body’s immune system to fight against the virus and we need to provide proper support by keeping the patient in intensive care unit, providing proper nutrition and regular brain monitoring. The unhygienic conditions here also contribute towards fatality. Another important reason contributing to JE deaths is late diagnosis of the disease. In the UK, there are no cases of JE as this virus doesn’t flourish there because of hygienic conditions.”

Chandrappa suggested raising public awareness about the disease and training doctors in such a manner that they easily recognize the symptoms of JE and start timely treatment to reduce mortality.

Dr Chandrappa, who hails from Bengaluru and shifted to the UK, found unhygienic conditions in India as a root cause of many diseases, including Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) and Japanese encephalitis. “In the UK, we have few cases of HSE as the presence of Herpes simplex virus is there but there are no cases of JE because of the clean environment. In India, JE outbreak is common because mosquitoes are the carriers of this virus.”

Over 400 participants from across the globe are participating at the conference at SRMS. Doctor GC Khilnani from AIIMS, New Delhi was the chief guest at this conference.