dc.contributor.author | Gichina, MB | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-05-23T12:00:11Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-05-23T12:00:11Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2010 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Master of Medicine In Pediatrics And Child Health | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/11295/24860 | |
dc.description.abstract | Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is the most common cause of sporadic fatal
encephalitis in the world. The incidence ofHSE is about 1 case per 250000 to 500000
persons per year. The prevalence of HSE varies from 5% to 30% in various studies
done in Europe and Asia. There is limited data on studies on prevalence of HSE in
Africa. Untreated HSE has a mortality rate of70%, with <3% of patients returning to
normal function. Survival rates are improved if treatment with Acyclovir is initiated
within 4 days after the onset of the illness. Detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in
the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the
diagnostic modality of choice for HSE. Only 14% of children admitted at Kenyatta
National Hospital (KNH) with suspected meningitis or encephalitis have confirmed
bacterial causes.
Objectives
The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of HSV in children admitted
in KNH with suspected meningitis or encephalitis. While the secondary objective was
to determine the clinical and CSF biochemistry findings associated with HSV
encephalitis or meningitis.
Methods
A cross sectional study where consecutive sampling method was used on children
aged between 1 month and 12 years who were presenting with suspected meningitis
or encephalitis over a period of three months at Paediatrics Filter Clinic (PFC) KNH.
Meningitis was defmed as patients presenting with headache, fever and neck stiffness
and any of the following signs: confusion or altered consciousness, convulsions,
irritability, lethargy, drowsiness, coma and bulging anterior fontanel. Encephalitis was
defined as patients with altered level of consciousness plus two of the following: fever
?:38°C, focal CNS finding (seizures, hemiparesis, nerve palsies and abnormal
movements) and pleocytosis associated with illness clinically compatible with
meningitis. | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.publisher | University Of Nairobi | en |
dc.title | Prevalence of herpes simplex virus in children Presenting with suspected meningitis and or Encephalitis at kenyatta National Hospital | en |
dc.type | Thesis | en |
dc.description.department | a
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, ; bDepartment of Mental Health, School of Medicine,
Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya | |
local.publisher | College of Health Sciences | en |