AES_blog_study
The AES outbreak! (A study) -By Krishanu Choudhury (Department of Molecular Biology, Tezpur University) The recent deaths of children in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur and in some parts of UP has given me chills go down my spine. The children died due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome(AES) which is prevalent in Bihar and UP region. The AES prevalent in those areas from 15-20 years and was famous in those regions by the name of “Chamki bukhaar”. Acute encephalitis syndrome is characterized by an acute onset of fever and clinical neurological manifestation that includes mental confusion, disorientation or coma. Viruses especially flaviviruses have mainly attributed to be the cause of AES in India although other sources such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, chemicals and toxins have been reported over the past few decades. The causative agent of AES varies with season and geographical location, and predominantly affects population below 15 years. Keeping in mind the wid