Aim: To study the electroencephalogram changes in children with acute encephalitis.

Study design:  Cross-sectional study.

Place and duration of study: The cases were admitted from OPD and emergency over duration of 10 months from May2009 to March 2010 in Children Hospital PIMS, Islamabad.

Method: Patients with Cerebral Palsy, Degenerative Brain disease, Cerebral Malaria and Meningitis were excluded. Written informed consent was taken from parents /guardians. All patients, from both genders, age varying from 4 months to 12 years, fitting the criteria of Acute Encephalitis according to ICD 9 & 10 were included in the study, which were 56 in total. All cases had Lumbar puncture and Cerebro Spinal Fluid examination. The findings of pleocytosis (WBC count more than5 u/l), protein and sugar were recorded. EEG (Electroencecephlogram) was done in 52 patients, frequencies and percentages were calculated of the findings.

Results: The mean age was 4. 6 years, (varying from 4 months to 12 years) with a standard deviation of 3. 2.  From a total of fifty six patients, 38(68%) were males and 18(32%) females. All cases presented with fever (100%). Cerebro Spinal Fluid examination, showed Pleocytosis in 30(54%) while 46(46%) had normal cell count. Cerebro Spinal Fluid protein content was normal in 45(80%) and increased in 11(20%). Cerebro Spinal Fluid sugar was normal in 50(89%) and 6(11%) had low. Electroencephalogram was done in fifty-two patients out of which 30(58%) were normal, 22(42%) were abnormal.  Intermittent slowing was found in 17(77%) and 5(23%) cases had focal discharges along with intermittent slowing, out of which three were unilateral temporo-frontal discharges,  two cases had  other focal discharges on EEG.

Conclusion: In patients with Acute Encephalitis, slowing of the rhythm was the most frequent abnormal Electroencephalogram finding, followed by focal discharges in children admitted in Children’s Hospital PIMS, Islamabad.

Keywords: Acute Encephalitis, Electroencephalogram (electro encephalogram), Cerebro Spinal Fluid Pleocytosis,  Fever