Sawanyawisuth et al identified risk factors for a encephalitis angiostrongyliasis (EA). This is a rare form angiostrongyliasis that is associated with a high mortality rate. The authors are from Khon Kaen University in Thailand and the University of Occupational and Environmental Health In Kitakyushu City, Japan.
The key feature of the encephalitic form is an acute deterioration in the level of consciousness, often with coma.
Risk factors for EA:
(1) older age
(2) prolonged headache
(3) fever with temperature > 38°C (100.4°F)
where:
• There is considerable overlap in the distributions for age and duration of headache.
• For the implementation a headache > 14 days will be listed as a risk factor.
• For the implementation an age > 50 years will be listed as a risk factor.
Additional factors found on univariate analysis:
(1) presentation during the summer
(2) presence of papilledema
(3) presence of a stiff neck
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