Reflections on a 38-Day-Old Japanese Encephalitis Patient Born to a Pregnant Traveler in Endemic Area: Strategies for Prevention

Han Som Choi; Jong Gyun Ahn; Hoon-Chul Kang

doi:10.1093/jpids/piab022

Reflections on a 38-Day-Old Japanese Encephalitis Patient Born to a Pregnant Traveler in Endemic Area: Strategies for Prevention

J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2021 Jul 22:piab022. doi: 10.1093/jpids/piab022. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Han Som Choi¹, Jong Gyun Ahn², Hoon-Chul Kang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
² Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

PMID: 34293172
DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piab022

Abstract

Vaccination against Japanese encephalitis is recommended for long-term travelers to endemic areas; however, the recommendation for pregnant women is controversial. An infant was diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis whose mother moved to an endemic area while pregnant. Preventive strategies are discussed. An infant was diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis whose mother travelled to endemic area while pregnant. As preventive strategies, we suggest vaccination of mother before or during pregnancy before the travel, or application of physical barriers before the child's vaccination.

Keywords: Japanese encephalitis; pregnant traveler; vaccination.

© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.