Encephalitis is a group of diseases,characterized by inflammation of the brain, which causes penetrating into it microorganisms. Encephalitis of the brain can, in some cases, proceed in a very mild form, and maybe in a very severe, sometimes fatal outcome.
Encephalitis is primary and secondary.The primary include tick-borne, mosquito, epidemic, herpetic, enteroviral, etc. Secondary ones are caused by various microbial flora and occur as complications against measles, influenza, typhoid, brain abscess, toxoplasmosis, scarlet fever, osteomyelitis and other diseases.
Encephalitis of the brain can occur insingle cases or epidemic outbreaks. The disease is more common among children and young people. In rural areas, encephalitis is usually caused by a virus that carries ticks or mosquitoes. You can get infected in other ways - through milk from a cow or a goat infected with a virus. In cities, the disease is most often caused by enteroviruses present in the digestive tract, which are then excreted with feces.
Severity of symptoms of encephalitisvaries greatly. The disease caused by the bite of a mosquito or tick can easily flow and even go unnoticed, and can lead to death. Caused by the herpes virus, it can also go in mild or acute, very dangerous, even fatal.
Brain encephalitis often develops acutely, with a headache,vomiting, raising the temperature to 39-40C. Some of its types begin with general weakness, malaise, catarrhal symptoms (cough, runny nose), headache, and fever. In severe cases, there is obscuring of consciousness, agitation, hallucinations, delusions, convulsive seizures.
Some encephalitis in the chronic periodproceed with different clinical manifestations of the disease. For example, chronic epidemic encephalitis of the brain is characterized by Parkinson's syndrome, when facial expressions become inexpressive, gait becomes difficult and becomes mincing or shuffling, an increase in muscle tone, hand trembling is observed. When tick-borne encephalitis develops, Kozhevnik epilepsy develops: clonic convulsions (rapid involuntary movements of the trunk and extremities), which often turn into a general seizure.
Brain encephalitis: consequences
The consequences of the disease, be it a mosquito,tick-borne, influenza or enterovirus encephalitis, depend on the features in the clinical picture. Either a complete recovery can occur, without consequences, or various residual effects may persist for many years, such as impaired coordination, weakness in the limbs, involuntary movements, convulsive seizures, paralysis. Many patients after a long time after recovery complain of fatigue, poor sleep, headache, memory loss, can not perform mental as well as physical work that is familiar to the illness.
Brain encephalitis necessarily treated in the hospital.For all types of encephalitis, to reduce intracranial pressure and reduce swelling of the brain, prescribe a solution of mannitol, magnesium sulfate, lasix. Assign vitamins B and C groups, nootropic agents (Cerebrolysin, Nootropil, Encephabol, etc.), calcium supplements. In acute epidemic encephalitis use sulfalamide drugs (sulfadimezin, etazol), corticosteroids (prednisone), the introduction of urotropin. With tick - hyperimmune horse serum, ribonuclease, specific g-globulin is injected. In the chronic stage, with Kozhevnikov epilepsy, anticonvulsants are used, with parkinsonism - anti-Parkinsonian drugs.
In order to prevent diseases, peopleworking in disadvantaged areas (geologists, hunters, lumber spawners, woodworkers), make preventive vaccinations. In addition, they are recommended to wear protective clothing and to use repellents and protective nets.
The prevention of enteroviral encephalitis is carried out as with any other intestinal diseases, including national measures.
