Clinical factors predictive of encephalitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis.
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.
Sawanyawisuth
Kittisak
K
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Srina-garind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. kittisak@kku.ac.th
Takahashi
Ken
K
Hoshuyama
Tsutomu
T
Sawanyawisuth
Kanlayanee
K
Senthong
Vichai
V
Limpawattana
Panita
P
Intapan
Pewpan M
PM
Wilson
Donald
D
Tiamkao
Somsak
S
Jitpimolmard
Suthipun
S
Chotmongkol
Verajit
V
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