Kumar R
           Department of Pediatrics, King George's Medical College, Lucknow.
           Indian J Pediatr 1999 Jan-Feb;66(1):73-83

        Japanese encephalitis (JE) and rabies are 2 viral encephalitis that are
        of public health importance in India. JE is a zoonosis with the primary
        cycle occurring in arthropods (mosquito vectors) and vertebrate animals
        (primarily the pig), man being only an incidental 'dead end' host.
        Out-breaks have been seen in most parts of India except the north west.
        The disease presents with a prodromal stage, an acute encephalitic stage
        with coma, convulsions and variable deficits and a convalescent stage.
        Diagnosis can be made by viral isolation from CSF or brain, or serologic
        tests such as haemagglutination inhibition test and IgM antibody capture
        ELISA in CSF and blood. There is no specific treatment. Mortality ranges
        from 20-50% and almost half the survivors have sequelae. The most
        effective control measure besides control of mosquitos is vaccination. A
        killed mouse brain vaccine is being prepared in India and is safe and
        effective but expensive. Rabies is a highly fatal encephalomyelitis
        primarily occurring in urban dogs and wild animals especially canines.
        It is endemic in India and affects an estimated 3 per 100,000 persons
        annually. The patient initially may display bizarre combative behaviour.
        The disease can be effectively prevented by post exposure vaccination.
        The nervous tissue vaccine is no longer recommended because of
        unacceptable neurotoxicity. Three cell culture vaccines are presently
        available with about equal efficacy.