Hospital-based Diagnosis of Hemorrhagic Fever, Encephalitis, and Hepatitis in Cambodian Children

• Main Authors: Y. Meng Chhour, Gaye Ruble, Rathavuth Hong, Kyi Minn, Yuvatha Kdan, Touch Sok, Ananda Nisalak, Khin Saw Aye Myint, David W. Vaughn, Timothy P. Endy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2002-05-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Cambodia; dengue; hemorrhagic fever; hepatitis; Japanese encephalitis; Southeast Asia
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/8/5/01-0236_article
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059

Surveillance was conducted for three clinical syndromes (hemorrhagic fever, encephalitis, and hepatitis) in Cambodian children admitted to the National Pediatric Hospital in Phnom Penh from July 1996 through September 1998. Acute- and convalescent-phase sera, and cerebrospinal fluid, when applicable, underwent diagnostic evaluation for infections with Dengue virus (DENV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), and Hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses. Of 621 children admitted with hemorrhagic fever, 499 (80%) were confirmed to have either primary or secondary DENV infection. DENV rates were as high as 10.6/100 hospital admissions in September 1998. Of 50 children with clinical encephalitis, 9 (18%) had serologic evidence of JEV infection. Forty-four children had clinical hepatitis, most (55%) due to Hepatitis A virus (HAV). One patient had Hepatitis B virus, and no patients had hepatitis C or E. This study identified a large number of children with vaccine-preventable diseases (JEV and HAV).