日本腦炎：不容忽視的中樞神經感染

Japanese Encephalitis

日本腦炎病毒的感染是亞洲及西太平洋地區重要的公共衛生問題，是亞洲兒童病毒神經系統感染的重要原因之一。近年來因為兒童疫苗政策的施行，在台灣主要病例轉至成人族群。當病患出現發燒、頭痛、意識不清，且腦部核磁共振出現特徵性丘腦病變，須高度懷疑為日本腦炎。目前並沒有特殊的抗病毒藥物可供治療，只有支持性療法。接種日本腦炎疫苗是最直接有效的預防方法。

Infection by the Japanese encephalitis virus is an important public health problem in Asia and the western Pacific region, because it is the leading cause of childhood viral neurological infection. In Taiwan, since the implementation of the policy of childhood vaccines, such cases have also begun to be reported in adults. Japanese encephalitis is characterized by fever, headache, and confusion, and hypothalamic lesions on brain magnetic resonance images. A specific antiviral drug for its treatment does not exist; only supportive therapy can be implemented. Vaccination against the virus is the most direct and effective method for prevention.