Hyderabad: Over 20 cases of encephalitis or meningoencephalitis have been reported in the city in 2015-16, according to a preliminary survey.
The cases of meningoencephalitis among children have seen a sharp rise in the lower economic groups due to lack of immunisation, poor hygiene, open drains, mosquito menace and poor nutrition.
Senior paediatrician Dr Altaf Naseem said, “A simple case of sore throat leads to aggravation of the disease. Viral infection spreads through the body and the brain. As the child’s immune system is weak the body is not able to fight off the infection.”
He said that when the child suffers from measles, mumps and chicken pox, he is not able to fight them. “There is a serious and life-threatening acute inflammation and swelling of the brain tissue,” he said.
Dr Arif Ahmed, senior paediatrician at Aditya Hospitals, said, “One of the prime reasons for the spread of the disease is lack of immunisation of children. Poor hygiene coupled with unclean surroundings is responsible for the spread of the disease.”
According to Mujatba Askari, whose foundation reported a few cases to city hospitals, “There is a need for proper diagnosis and targeting of lower socio-economic groups for immunisation so that the children can cope with these diseases.
"Proper diagnosis and treatment are important to ensure that the child can be saved. But in 80 per cent of the cases, this is not feasible as many of them come late to hospitals.
"About 50 per cent of them coming to private hospitals are burdened by the costs and not willing to continue with the treatment.”
