Japanese encephalitis in Thai children, Bangkok, Thailand.

During a period of 5 years from May 1979 to April 1984, 121 encephalitis patients were admitted to Bangkok Children's Hospital. 79 were proved to be JE. 73.42% of JE patients came from outside Bangkok while the rest came from suburban areas of Bangkok. No distinction could be made between JE and encephalitis caused by other agents by clinical data and cerebrospinal fluid examination. Definite diagnosis of JE could be done by demonstration of specific IgM antibody against JEV in cerebrospinal fluid. Case fatality rate of JE was 25%.