title: Clinical factors predictive of encephalitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis.
abstract: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is mainly caused eosinophilic meningitis in humans, whereas a minority of patients develop encephalitic angiostrongyliasis (EA). EA is an extremely fatal condition, and the clinical factors predictive of EA have never been reported. A comparison study was conducted in a hospital situated in an endemic area of Thailand. We enrolled 14 and 80 angiostrongyliasis patients who developed encephalitis and meningitis, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the clinical variables predictive of encephalitis. Age (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.42), duration of headache (adjusted OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.03-1.55), and fever > 38.0 degrees C (adjusted OR, 37.05; 95% CI, 1.59-862.35) were identified as statistically significant factors for EA prediction. Elderly patients with angiostrongyliasis experiencing fever and prolonged headaches were at the highest risk of developing EA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Srina-garind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. kittisak@kku.ac.th
authors.forename: Kittisak
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawanyawisuth
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoshuyama
authors.forename: Kanlayanee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawanyawisuth
authors.forename: Vichai
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Senthong
authors.forename: Panita
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Limpawattana
authors.forename: Pewpan M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Intapan
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Somsak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tiamkao
authors.forename: Suthipun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jitpimolmard
authors.forename: Verajit
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chotmongkol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000150:complications / Q000469:parasitology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult