Over the past month, at least 14 children under the age of 15 have died after being admitted to hospitals in Nagpur, Maharashtra, and Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh. Doctors say the cases appear to be acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), a term often used when the brain suddenly becomes inflamed or stops functioning, but without a confirmed cause.

According to doctors in both districts, the affected children came to hospitals with very high fever. Within hours, many deteriorated rapidly. Some fell unconscious within 24 hours of admission.

Most of these children also went into acute renal failure, meaning their kidneys stopped working and they produced no urine. Several had to be put on dialysis and ventilator support in an attempt to save their lives.

In Chhindwara, six of the deaths came fro

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