Boy recovers from rare autoimmune encephalitis in Hyderabad; docs warn of prolonged fevers

Hyderabad: An 11-year-old, suffering from an exceptionally rare condition affecting only 2 in every 10 lakh children, was treated successfully at Kamineni Hospital, King Koti.

The rare neurological disorder called autoimmune Encephalitis occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own brain.

“Aryan, an 11-year-old boy from Karmanghat, Hyderabad, was suffering from persistent high fever and recurrent seizures for nearly a month. His parents initially sought treatment at nearby hospitals, but when the seizures persisted and the fever did not subside, they brought him to Kamineni Hospital. Upon arrival, Aryan’s condition was critical, requiring immediate ventilator support,” said Dr Avinash Kumar Adoju, a consultant neurophysician, who led the successful treatment.

Process of treating Autoimmune Encephalitis

Dr Avinash explained the treatment’s procedure: “We began by conducting an MRI of his brain to rule out Brain TB, but the results were negative. Despite ongoing medication, his condition showed no significant improvement, prompting us to perform a PET CT scan. The results confirmed Autoimmune Encephalitis, a condition so rare that it is often difficult to diagnose. Symptoms such as fever lasting beyond two weeks and recurrent seizures should immediately raise suspicion and prompt advanced diagnostic tests.”

The treatment involved a multi-step approach. Initially, plasma exchange was performed over five sessions on alternate days to filter out autoantibodies from the boy’s system. Following this, pulse therapy using steroids was administered. Once some improvement was observed, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy was initiated. Based on Aryan’s body weight, the dosage of 2 grams per kilogram was calculated and tailored specifically for him.

“These customised treatments resulted in a complete recovery. The entire process took approximately a month, after which Aryan was taken off ventilator support and medication. He is now in normal health,” Dr Avinash Kumar added.

Parents asked to be vigilant about fevers lasting more than two weeks

Aryan’s mother, a homemaker, and father, a small business owner, expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Dr Avinash Kumar and the medical team at Kamineni Hospital for saving their child’s life.

Dr Avinash Kumar advised parents to stay vigilant if their children experience fever lasting beyond two weeks or seizures, as these could indicate underlying conditions like Brain TB or Autoimmune Encephalitis. Given the prevalence of various fevers in the city, he urged parents to seek timely medical intervention.