BUSS W C, EATON J
Calif Med. 1952 May;76(5):350-4.
Encephalitis is a challenging public health problem in Kern County and in the San Joaquin Valley area. During the last ten years the authors have studied the epidemiology of encephalitides due to arthropod-borne viruses and the methods used in the differential dignosis of these conditions. To incriminate a virus it is necessary to demonstrate a rise in antibody titer in the blood over a period of seven to fourteen days, the first specimen to be taken as soon as possible after onset of symptoms. A variety of tests may be necessary in some cases. Among the patients included in this presentation the greater number of those with encephalitis and also of those with poliomyelitis were under 30 years of age. The age range was five weeks to 49 years. The median annual mortality rate was 4.3 deaths per 100 cases for poliomyelitis and 3.9 for encephalitis. The greatest incidence occurred during the summer months.The clinical manifestations usually observed in encephalitis are described, but it is emphasized that wide variations and even completely atypical clinical phenomena are encountered. Four representative cases are reported and treatment is discussed. Vaccination and vector control are considered as the most promising means of combating the disease.
脑炎在克恩县和圣华金谷地区是一个具有挑战性的公共卫生问题。在过去十年中，作者们研究了节肢动物传播病毒所致脑炎的流行病学以及这些疾病鉴别诊断所采用的方法。要确定某种病毒，有必要证明在7至14天的时间里血液中抗体滴度升高，首个样本应在症状出现后尽快采集。在某些情况下可能需要进行多种检测。在本次报告所纳入的患者中，患脑炎以及患脊髓灰质炎的患者中大多数年龄在30岁以下。年龄范围为5周至49岁。脊髓灰质炎的年中位死亡率为每100例中有4.3例死亡，脑炎为每100例中有3.9例死亡。最高发病率出现在夏季。文中描述了脑炎通常观察到的临床表现，但强调会遇到广泛的变异甚至完全非典型的临床现象。报告了4个典型病例并讨论了治疗方法。疫苗接种和病媒控制被认为是对抗该疾病最有前景的手段。
