Tick-borne encephalitis is a specific viral disease that provokes brain inflammation, as well as damage to the nervous system (peripheral and central).
Symptoms of encephalitis after tick bite are evidentOnly if the insect was the carrier of the virus. In nature, it carries two types: European and taiga. Their main habitats are the territories of Siberia, the Urals and the Far East. The peak of mite activity is the end of spring, the last days of summer and the beginning of autumn. In these months, the incidence, respectively, also sharply increases.
Varieties
Specialists distinguish several types of disease. Symptoms of encephalitis after a tick bite, depending on it, can differ among themselves and manifest with different strengths.
- Far Eastern encephalitis. It is considered the most dangerous form of the disease, it is very difficult. The percentage of deaths reaches 30-40%.
- European encephalitis. It is transferred quite easily (with timely treatment). Mortality is relatively low.
- Siberian encephalitis.
Symptomatology
So, let's move on to the most important thing.When you bite an insect in the human body gets its saliva, which contains the virus. For some time it is necessary for reproduction in tissues, penetration into the blood and lymph nodes. The first symptoms of encephalitis after a tick bite are very similar to the flu: the temperature rises, there is a chill, an aching in the body. This condition lasts about 2 days on average. Further symptoms will depend on the form of the disease: febrile, meningeal, poliomyelitis or encephalitic.
Feverish.With this form of the disease, the virus does not affect the nervous system. It appears as a serious viral infection. The main signs: fever, severe weakness in the body, aches. The severe condition lasts an average of about 10 days. Changes in the brain fluid does not occur. As a rule, at this stage the patients successfully recover.
The meningeal form is characterized bypenetration of the virus into the nervous system. The main symptoms of encephalitis after a tick bite at this stage are: cessation of fever, temporary improvement of the condition. Then the patient starts fever, the first signs appear, speaking of neurological disorders: vomiting, headache, rigidity of the occipital muscles, photophobia. There are changes in cerebrospinal fluid, signs of inflammation of the meninges appear.
Encephalitic form - the next stagedisease. During this period, the brain substance is affected, focal signs are formed. The above symptoms persist, and in addition to them are added disorders of the psyche, convulsions, paralysis and paresis, impaired consciousness. This form has a high percentage of deaths.
The last, poliomyelitis form of the diseaseAffects neurons in the motor zones of the spinal cord, as is the case with ordinary poliomyelitis. As a result, flaccid paralysis of muscles and neck develops, the consequence of which is disability.
Now you know what a threattransferring encephalitis mite. Symptoms that are manifested in the early stages (fever and general malaise) should not be attributed to an ordinary cold. If you know that you were in a place where an insect could bite you, it's better to go to a doctor immediately. Remember that a female tick can drink blood until it is completely absorbed (up to several days). And the person thus does not feel anything - a bite absolutely painless.
Prevention
Lazing on the nature with family or friends,be sure to ask friends to examine you from time to time, since most of the means against insects on ticks do not work. It is advisable to wear light clothing, but cover your arms, legs and other parts of your body, so that it has as few open areas as possible. The simplest precautions will help you and your loved ones to prevent tick-borne encephalitis.
Symptoms in children and adults who have experienced thisdisease, even with the most mild forms of ailment, are transferred quite hard. Therefore, it is better not to allow a bite, than to deal with its consequences later.
