Incidence of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Different Countries
Author Information
Author(s): Jmor Fidan, Emsley Hedley CA, Fischer Marc, Solomon Tom, Lewthwaite Penny
Primary Institution: University of Liverpool
Hypothesis
What is the minimum annual incidence of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) that should be reported to show that the surveillance programme is active?
Conclusion
The study suggests a minimum incidence of 10 per 100,000 AES cases for children and 2 per 100,000 for adults based on the most robust studies.
Supporting Evidence
- The review included 25 studies that provided data on AES incidence.
- Minimum incidence rates were found to be 10.5 per 100,000 for children and 2.2 per 100,000 for adults in Western countries.
- A minimum incidence of 6.34 per 100,000 was reported for all ages from a tropical setting.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many people get a brain infection called acute encephalitis syndrome each year, and found that we should aim to report at least 10 cases for every 100,000 kids and 2 cases for every 100,000 adults.
Methodology
The review analyzed 25 studies that met specific inclusion criteria regarding the incidence of AES.
Potential Biases
There may be under-reporting of cases due to reliance on hospital discharge data and varying diagnostic practices.
Limitations
The study faced challenges due to varying methodologies and case definitions across different studies.
Participant Demographics
The studies included participants from both Western industrialized and tropical countries, covering all age groups.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website