Muzaffarpur: Children who have escaped from death are now feared to be disabled after suffering from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) spread over about 20 districts, including Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. The central team probing the causes of AES has indicated the need for counselling of kin of the affected children to increase immunity in such children.

Dr. A.K. Sinha, an adviser to the National Child Health Programme and chair of the investigation team, has expressed fears that achildren with AES may become mentally ill or have an impact on any part of their body. There is a need to increase the resistance to avoid diseases in children who have recovered and returned home. Describing the need for counselling for the families of the affected children, he said that awareness will be of great help to the parents of the children who have recovered from the disease.

For information, a heat wave has started in several districts of Bihar including Muzaffarpur this summer. However, the number of children suffering from AES has come down to the hospital after the onset of rains.