Children and the elderly constitute the most vulnerable demographics for the disease Doctors at Amrita Hospital in Faridabad have raised concerns about the increase in brain infections in India's coastal and rice belt regions during the monsoon season. The combination of high humidity and increased mosquito breeding in these areas leads to a surge in cases of viral encephalitis and other brain infections, significantly affecting these populations. Children and the elderly are particularly at risk.
A brain infection, also known as encephalitis, occurs when the brain becomes inflamed due to infection by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. These infections can lead to severe inflammation and damage to brain tissues, potentially causing a range of neurological symptoms. Brain infections, which are relatively rare in developed countries, remain a significant public health issue in South Asian nations like India.
The incidence of brain infections spikes during the monsoon season due to favorable conditions for mosquito breeding, which are vectors for several viral infections such as dengue and Japanese encephalitis. According to recent data from The Lancet Global Health, coastal regions such as Karnataka and Orissa, as well as northeastern states like Assam and Tripura, and northern states with rice belts like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, are endemic zones for viral encephalitis in India. Dr.
Sanjay Pandey, HoD, Neurology and Stroke Medicine at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad said, “B.