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Chen et al. Characteristics of viral encephalitis with epilepsy

and analyzed the data. precipitated by overwork; and 1 case was precipitated
by brain trauma. There were 96 patients (82.76%) with
Statistical methods acute onset and 20 patients (17.24%) with subacute
We used SPSS 17.0 for statistical and further onset. Some viral encephalitides have a history of
analysis. The measurement data and enumeration prodromal infections, such as, respiratory infections
data were statistically analyzed with Rank Sum test (especially upper respiratory tract infections), digestive
and χ test respectively. tract infections, and mucocutaneous herpes. Part of
2
the patients were complicated with severe pneumonia,
RESULTS atrial fibrillation, heart failure and other cardiovascular
diseases, gastrointestinal bleeding, and other serious
General situations medical diseases [Table 2].
In the prior 6 years, the incidence of viral encephalitis
had not increased obviously. There were 67 cases There were 7 cases of patients (6.03%) with initial
of male patients (57.76%) and 49 cases of female symptoms of epilepsy, which is much lower than that of
patients (42.24%) among all the patients. The mean Misra’s study of 30.7% vs. 42.6%. Possible reasons
[7]
age of presentation was 41.00 ± 19.06 years in the are that patients and their families do not recognize
group with epilepsy and 37.70 ± 15.59 years in the partial epilepsy seizure, there are no family members
group without epilepsy. The average length of stay in the presence of seizures, and the patients cannot
was 19.53 ± 16.46 days in the group with epilepsy and provide the relevant medical history themselves.
19.84 ± 12.76 days in the group without epilepsy. There There were 3 cases of patients (2.59%) with initial
were no significant differences between the two groups symptom of dizziness, nausea, vomiting and other
in gender, nationality, age, average hospitalization general symptoms; 1 case of patients (0.86%) with
days; however, there were significantly differences in initial symptom of visual disorder; 2 cases of patients
the conditions upon entering the hospital (P = 0.020) (1.72%) with initial symptom of hemiplegia; 2 cases of
[Table 1]. patients (1.72%) with initial symptom of paresthesia; 1
case of patients (0.86%) with initial symptom of ataxia;
Clinical presentation and 1 case of patients (0.86%) with initial symptom of
Among the 116 patients with viral encephalitis, 46 conscious disturbance. The main manifestations of viral
cases had definite causes. Catching cold was the encephalitis include headache, fever, seizures, limb
main precipitating factor for 41 cases (89.13%). weakness, consciousness disturbance, mental and
Two cases (4.34%) were precipitated by psychiatric behavioral disorders, language disorders, cognitive
and psychological factors; 2 cases (4.34%) were dysfunction, ataxia, and varying degrees of alteration

Table 1: Comparison of gender, nationality and entering hospital condition between the two groups
With epilepsy group Without epilepsy group
Characteristics χ 2 P
Case Rate (%) Case Rate (%)
Male 23 58.97 44 57.14 0.036 0.850
Female 16 41.02 33 42.85
Han nationality 28 71.79 57 74.02 0.066 0.798
Non-Han nationality 11 28.20 20 25.97
Common patients 10 25.64 37 48.05 5.395 0.020
Severe patients 29 74.35 40 51.95

Table 2: Comparison of clinical manifestations between the two groups
With epilepsy group Without epilepsy group
Clinical manifestations χ 2 P
Case Rate (%) Case Rate (%)
Headache 30 76.92 66 85.71 1.402 0.236
Fever 31 79.49 55 71.43 0.877 0.349
Consciousness disturbance 32 82.05 16 20.78 40.067 0.001
Cognitive dysfunction 24 61.54 28 36.26 6.634 0.01
Sensory disturbance 2 5.13 4 5.19 0.000 1.000*
Involuntary movement 3 7.69 2 2.60 0.628 0.428*
Decreased memory 11 28.21 12 15.58 2.594 0.107
Language disorders 11 28.21 12 15.58 2.594 0.107
Autonomic nervous dysfunction 4 10.26 4 5.19 0.395 0.530*
Central hypoventilation 8 20.51 6 7.79 2.84 0.092*
Meningeal irritation sign 12 30.77 19 24.68 0.491 0.484
*stands for using the chi square test for correction
Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation ¦ Volume 4 ¦ July 11, 2017 127