Gaya, April 30: The Union health ministry and the state health department are concerned about rehabilitation of children who have survived after getting affected with acute encephalitis syndrome.

Japanese encephalitis is among the 19 diseases that are described as acute encephalitis syndrome. Around 410 children, suspected to be suffering from acute encephalitis syndrome, including Japanese encephalitis, were admitted to Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital (ANMCH), Gaya, till December 15, 2011. Of them, 94 children died and 277 were discharged after treatment.

Now, the Union government and the state are concerned to know the present status of the 277 children, who have been discharged from the hospital. According to ANMCH paediatrics head of department Ajoy Kishore Ravi, nearly 30 to 40 per cent children who have survived after suffering from Japanese encephalitis, developed physical or psychiatric deformity. The 277 children are residents of different blocks of Gaya, Aurangabad, Nawada and Jehanabad and Chatra in Jharkhand. Ravi said he would request the health department principal secretary Amarjeet Sinha to get a survey conducted to ascertain the present status of the children who have survived. Detailed information about the children, including name and address, is available with the ANMCH.

The information about the children will be provided to the medical officers in-charge of the primary health centres of the districts concerned.

Ravi said around 30 to 40 per cent children, who survive after suffering from Japanese encephalitis might develop neck rigidity, facial deformity, speech disorder, hearing and visual impairment. The child may also develop behavioural disorder.

“There is no cent per cent cure. Also there is no role of drugs for them but the aim is to rehabilitate such children as much as possible,” Ravi added.