ĐẶC ĐIỂM DỊCH TỄ VIÊM MÀNG NÃO TĂNG BẠCH CẦU ÁI TOAN DO ANGIOSTRONGYLUS CANTONENSIS TẠI BỆNH VIỆN NHI ĐỒNG 1

Abstract

Background: Eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis in children is an increasingly concerned disease in the world as well as in Vietnam. Researches on eosinophilic meningitis caused by A. cantonensis in Vietnam are limited, especially in children.Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe epidemiological characteristics of children from 1 month to 16 years old who were diagnosed with eosinophilic meningitis caused by A. cantonensis and received treatment at the Department of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Hospital 1. Methods: Case series study. Results: From 1/2016 to 1/2020, there were 32 cases who were diagnosed with eosinophilic meningitis caused by A. cantonensis. 31 cases were identified in the cerebral spinal fluid by RT-PCR, 1 case was identified by positive serology. The ratio between males and females was 1:1. Most cases occurred in the rainy season, the highest incidence was in August (84.4%). The ages ranged from 13 months to 14 years and 5 months, the median age was 5.5 years. The majority of patients came from the Southwestern region, Ca Mau province accounted for the highest rate of disease. 6 cases exposed to the intermidiate host. The average incubation period was 22 days. 29 patients (90.6%) had symptomatic onset within 14 days prior to hospital admission. No patient was diagnosed eosinophilic meningitis caused by the nematode A. cantonensis before hospitalization. 8 cases were diagnosed central nervous system infection. Conclusions: Eosinophilic meningitis caused by A. cantonensis could be mistaken for other diseases. In endemic areas, the physician should suspect this disease when the patient has risk factors with acute or subacute progressive history.