Three kids diagnosed with AES at Muzaffarpur hosp

PATNA: The acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) has started rearing its ugly heads once again. At least three children admitted to the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur in the last 24 hours were diagnosed with AES.
Sonakhi Kumari (3), Riya Kumari (4) and Piyush Raj (3) from Vaishali, Sitamarhi and East Champaran districts, respectively, were admitted to the paediatric unit of the SKMCH after they complained of high fever, convulsions, mental confusion and other symptoms of AES.
The head of the paediatric department, Dr Gopalshankar Sahani, said the three children were diagnosed with AES. “Piyush has also showed signs of heatstroke. His condition is critical,” he said, adding the other children admitted to the PICU ward were showing signs of improvement.
SKMCH superintendent Dr B S Jha said eight children with symptoms of AES have been admitted to the SKMCH since January this year. Six of them were diagnosed with AES, he added.
Dr Jha said the reports related to the AES have already been sent to the health department. AES cases are reported during summer in flood-prone districts like Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sitamarhi, East Champaran and Samastipur.
This year’s first case of AES was reported on February 16 when two-and-a-half-month-old Akash Kumar was admitted to the SKMCH by his parents.
Earlier, Muzaffarpur district magistrate Pranav Kumar had said that a massive awareness campaign was launched in Muzaffarpur to keep AES at bay. “District health officials have been asked to reach out to people in all villages and guide people on how to contain the likely outbreak of AES during summer,” he added.