Benefit of Early and Goal Directed Physiotherapy Intervention on Gross Motor Function in a Child with Japanese Encephalitis: A Rare Case Report

Abstract

Due to its widening geographical range, Japanese encephalitis (JE) has lately been named a notifiable disease in India. The disease notification makes it easier to put preventive measures in place and manage cases. JE is a vector-borne disease that is preventable with vaccination. The virus that causes it is the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), which belongs to the Flaviviridae family. The present case report is of an infant of 18 months old presented with problems of decreased tone, loss of developmental achieved milestones and convulsions with severe fever. On examination there was hypotonia, lack on neck control, difficulty in rolling, low pitch cry and smile. We managed the child with standard physiotherapy protocol. We framed goals focusing both on preventing complications and promoting recovery. We gave treatment for a period of 4 weeks. We measured Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Gross motor function measure (GMFM-88) Pre and post treatment. We would like conclude our case report by mentioning the importance early and goal specific supportive and restorative care to a child will enable him or her to take more vigorous physiotherapy care in future for restoring sensorimotor and behavioral function.