Encephalitis International on Monday launched a new identification tool to help Filipinos easily recognize the early warning signs of encephalitis, a disease that can lead to severe disability or death if diagnosed late.
Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain, which affects three people every minute globally, the organization said in a statement.
However, approximately eight out of ten adults are unaware of the condition, as its early symptoms may resemble those of common illnesses.
According to the World Health Organization, encephalitis is a leading cause of neurological health impairment in children under five years of age and is a growing public health concern for people of all ages.
Although rare, it causes severe brain injury and long-term disability, leaving survivors with permanent cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and physical challenges that disrupt daily life.
Dr. Ava Easton, chief executive of Encephalitis International, said encephalitis continues to grow rapidly, yet public awareness is alarmingly low.
“When warning signs are missed, diagnosis is delayed, and the risk of death or lifelong disability increases. Early detection is one of the most effective ways to protect brain health and save lives,” Ms Easton said.
To bridge the gap between the first symptoms and accurate diagnosis, Encephalitis International introduced FLAMES, an identification tool that uses an acronym to highlight the immediate warning signs of the condition.
These include (f) flu-like symptoms, (l) loss of consciousness, (a) intense headache, (m) memory problems, (e) emotional and behavioral changes, and (s) seizures. These symptoms apply to both infectious and autoimmune encephalitis and indicate the need for immediate medical attention.
The structured recall tool was launched ahead of World Encephalitis Day on 22 February and can be used in both clinical settings and community awareness campaigns.
Dr. Ferron F., an expert in adult neurology and neuroinfectious diseases. When encephalitis is identified early, treatment can begin sooner and the chance of recovery increases, Ocampo said.
“It is essential to strengthen symptom awareness among communities and frontline providers,” Mr. Ocampo said.
In a low- to middle-income country like the Philippines, this strategy makes sense, the organization said, because the burden of the disease has increased due to limited neurological services and limited access to treatments and medications.
According to the World Health Organization, Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus, caused by mosquitoes, is the main culprit of viral encephalitis in many countries in Asia, including the Philippines.
JE cases in the country reached 1,532 in 2020 and 988 in 2021, with an incidence of about 0.7 per 100,000 children under 15 years of age, highest in the northern region of the country.
Since 2019, the Department of Health (DOH) has introduced vaccination for children aged nine months to under five years in areas with high JE cases.
Encephalitis International is urging both the general public and non-specialist medical providers to use the FLAMES strategy.
Communities are also encouraged to learn about and share awareness of warning signs to reduce deaths and disabilities caused by encephalitis. — Age Adrian A Eva