Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of early bedside swallowing training on the recovery of swallowing function in children with severe viral encephalitis.
Methods A total of 72 children with severe viral encephalitis admitted to our hospital from January 2018 to October 2019 were enrolled. They were divided into observation group (early bedside swallowing training group) and control group (conventional treatment group)，each with 36 cases, according to the random number table method. Both groups were given conventional Chinese and Western medicine treatment for viral encephalitis. For the observation group，the rehabilitation therapist provided bedside swallowing function training. After a treatment of one month，3 months and 6 months，the recovery of swallowing function and the incidence of complications were observed and compared between the two groups.
Results The total effective rate of the observation group after the early bedside swallowing training was better than that of the control group after 3 months and 6 months of treatment(P<0.05). The incidence of complications was lower in the observation group than that in the control group after 6 months of treatment(P<0.05).
Conclusion Early bedside swallowing training can not only promote the recovery of swallowing function in children with severe viral encephalitis complicated with dysphagia，but also effectively reduce the occurrence of complications and ensure the implementation of other rehabilitation treatments，which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Key words: Severe viral encephalitis, Dysphagia, Early bedside, Swallowing training, Children