Go to contents

Middle-aged groups vulnerable to Japanese encephalitis

Posted September. 27, 2016 07:37,   

Updated September. 27, 2016 07:58

한국어

It has been found that the patients of Japanese encephalitis, which had been known to predominantly affect children, are concentrated on the middle-aged bracket in Korea.

A joint research released by the Dong-A Ilbo and the National Health Insurance Service on Monday that among the Japanese encephalitis patients in the country (a total of 232), 77, or 33.2 percent, were in their 50s over the period between 2006 and the first half of 2016. Japanese encephalitis is an epidemic disease in which the patient is infected by a type of mosquito called "culex pipiens" that destroy cerebral nerves.

The bracket in their 40s was the second majority at 21.1 percent (49). In other words, roughly half of the Japanese encephalitis patients in Korea were in their 40s and 50s. In addition, patients aged 40 or more took up 78.9 percent of the total. By contrast, the proportion of patients aged under nine or teenage patients stood each at 8.6 percent (18) and 4.7 percent (11). All in all, the number of patients under the age of 20 was only a minority.

So far, the conventional belief has held that Japanese encephalitis mostly affects children aged under 15 or lower. Naturally, vaccinations have targeted children including infants and toddlers. Experts point out that it takes more caution to keep in shape during fall as the season brims with mosquitoes. They also advise the adults in their 40s and 50s should get vaccination against Japanese encephalitis.



김윤종기자 zozo@donga.com