Encephalitis is an acute disease that occurs due to infection and affects the brain. This disease most often occurs in childhood. The first symptoms often resemble regular flu, as the body temperature rises, headache and general weakness occur.
Over time, the condition worsens, and signs characteristic of an inflammatory process in the brain appear. Considering how dangerous encephalitis is, symptoms in children should alert parents.
Concept and characteristics
Tick-borne encephalitis is a viral infection of natural etiology.
The pathological process negatively affects the central nervous system and is focal in nature.
The carriers of the infection are wild and domestic animals infected with ticks of a certain type.
The virus can enter a child’s body through certain foods. The cause of infection is always the saliva or waste products of the encephalitis tick.
Features of the disease:
- the cause of tick-borne encephalitis is an arbovirus stamp;
- an animal or bird becomes infected immediately after a tick bite.
Transmission routes
There are several routes of transmission of flavivirus:
- Through a bite. When an infected ixodid tick bites a child, the flavivirus enters the body along with the saliva.
- When crushing an arthropod. If a child accidentally crushes an infected tick, the pathogen enters the body through small wounds and scratches on the skin.
- Through products. A child can become infected by drinking milk from a cow that has been bitten by an ixodid tick. This occurs when consuming an unboiled product, since at high temperatures the pathogen dies.
In most cases, infection occurs due to a bite. Ixodid ticks live in tall grass, bushes, and also on the crowns of trees. Therefore, children are at great risk when walking in the forest or park. The period of greatest tick activity lasts from April to September.
A sick child does not pose any danger to other children and adults. Tick-borne encephalitis is not transmitted from person to person.
Causes
The main cause of tick-borne encephalitis is the bite of a child by an infected tick . It can get on the baby’s body through contact with an animal.
The second route of infection is the child's consumption of raw goat's or cow's milk (provided it was obtained from an infected cow or goat).
In this case, the virus enters the digestive system and then spreads throughout the body.
The causes of tick-borne encephalitis can be the following factors:
- a critical decrease in the child’s immunity (increases susceptibility to the virus);
- eating contaminated food (fecal-oral route of infection);
- bite of an encephalitis tick (upon contact with the insect itself or its carriers).
Symptoms and signs
During the first two weeks, tick-borne encephalitis may develop asymptomatically . If the child took Immunoglobulin, then this period will last longer (up to three weeks).
An exacerbation of the disease occurs suddenly and is always accompanied by a sharp increase in body temperature up to 40 degrees.
Further symptoms will depend on the individual characteristics of the child’s body and the speed of spread of the infection.
Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis in children:
- general weakness of the body;
- headache;
- pronounced drowsiness;
- violation of the swallowing process;
- loss of voice or speech impairment;
- exhaustion of the body (progressive);
- impaired sensitivity of the skin;
- increased body temperature;
- facial redness;
- repeated vomiting;
- dilation of blood vessels on the sclera of the eyes;
- arrhythmia and heart failure;
- decreased muscle tone;
- muscle pain;
- pain in the lumbar region;
- tongue paralysis;
- disturbance of consciousness;
- convulsive conditions;
- photophobia.
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Varieties
Symptoms of encephalitis in children directly depend on the type of disease. There are different forms of pathology, so during diagnosis it will be necessary to determine the specific one. Each type has its own characteristic features by which it can be recognized.
Kinds:
- Tick-borne encephalitis in children. The incubation period is up to two weeks. Often this type is combined with meningitis, as well as pathology of peripheral nerves. In approximately 50% of cases, the condition improves after a rise in temperature, while there is no morphological damage to the brain.
- Herpetic . The causative agent is herpes; without treatment, the pathology leads to complete necrosis of brain cells. Death occurs in 70% of cases, most often caused by cerebral edema. This encephalitis often occurs in newborns whose mothers suffered a herpetic infection during pregnancy.
- Japanese . First, the temperature rises sharply, and then visual disturbances are observed. The disease often involves paralysis, convulsions and paresis. The carriers are mosquitoes.
- Flu-like . Cerebral edema and hemorrhages are often observed. The symptoms are vivid, so it is important to prevent this type of illness. As a preventive measure, vaccinations are often given during the flu season.
- Measles . Often occurs approximately 4 days after the appearance of skin rashes. There may be paralysis, problems with the pelvic organs, and paresis. The mortality rate is 25%, the severity of the pathology depends on the course of measles.
- Pathology in chickenpox. Disorders of consciousness and convulsions are observed. The likelihood of death is low, so doctors make a favorable prognosis.
As soon as symptoms of encephalitis appear in young children, you should immediately consult a doctor. Otherwise, the likelihood of complications will increase.
Incubation period
The incubation period of the virus that provokes the development of tick-borne encephalitis depends on the ambient temperature. Ticks tolerate cold well, but die when exposed to heat .
For example, in room conditions, the infection can remain active for up to ten days, and when boiling, the risk of infection is eliminated in a few minutes.
Ultraviolet rays and disinfectants are destructive to the virus . At low temperatures it can persist in the environment for years.
Complications and consequences
Tick-borne encephalitis can cause extremely negative consequences, including disability for the child .
In the absence of timely assistance to the baby, there is a risk of death.
The likelihood of complications can only be eliminated by complete treatment of the infection . In this case, the disease may pass without a trace for the child and not disrupt the functioning of his internal systems.
The consequences of tick-borne encephalitis can be the following conditions:
- flaccid paralysis;
- paralysis of the upper limbs;
- atrophy of the shoulder girdle;
- chronic diseases of the nervous and cardiovascular systems;
- disruption of other vital systems;
- brain infection;
- death.
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Forecast
The prognosis depends entirely on the timeliness of treatment and the type of pathology. The febrile form usually ends with complete recovery and passes without consequences.
With the meningeal form, the prognosis is considered conditionally favorable. In some cases, after recovery, the child remains with chronic headaches. They can last for several months or years, and sometimes for a lifetime.
The focal form of the disease has the most unfavorable prognosis. Even with intensive treatment, death occurs in 30% of cases. Surviving children often have mental retardation, as well as epileptic seizures and paralysis of the arms.
How to confirm the diagnosis?
Diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis is carried out by collecting anamnesis, visual examination of the child and laboratory examination of the tick, if present.
Additionally, there is a need for many tests and special procedures to create an individual clinical picture of the baby’s health condition. Based on the examination, a specific course of treatment for the child is prescribed.
Diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis includes the following procedures:
- differential diagnosis with polio, epilepsy, meningitis and other diseases with similar symptoms;
- PCR, ELISA and RNIF;
- RTGA and RSK (serological methods);
- EEG;
- lumbar puncture;
- General and biochemical analysis of blood and urine.
Types of disease
Childhood encephalitis is an acute disease caused by a viral or bacterial infection. The disease affects the substances of the brain, which can result in paralysis or neuropsychiatric disorders. Previously, it was believed that this disease affects adult men who work in the taiga. In recent years, the statistics have changed somewhat; among those infected there are hundreds of small patients.
Prevention of the disease is especially important in the summer - the period when ticks become more active. The peak of infection occurs between May and September. Carriers of the disease can be hares, hedgehogs, squirrels, goats, cows, horses and sheep. Viral and bacterial infections primarily affect the children's body due to the fact that the immune system of children is at the stage of formation.
At the first manifestations of illness in a baby—fever, convulsions, loss of consciousness—parents should immediately seek qualified medical help. Before prescribing treatment, the doctor must collect the most informative data about the events preceding the disease.
If necessary, the pediatrician can refer the child to undergo diagnostic measures, including:
- virological analysis, which can be used to determine the level of antibodies to the disease;
- MRI or CT scan of the brain to identify inflammatory areas;
- cerebrospinal fluid analysis to study cerebrospinal fluid;
- examination of the tick only at the stage of early diagnosis;
- double serological blood test with an interval of 3-4 weeks, which allows identifying antibodies to infection.
Tick-borne encephalitis is a general designation for several separate types of disease. They are divided into the following groups according to the severity of symptoms and signs:
- febrile - in approximately half of all cases this form of the disease occurs, associated with the development of severe fever;
- meningeal - occurs in a third of all cases, is associated with damage to the membrane of the brain and spinal cord by the virus;
- focal - this form develops in every fifth patient; it is associated with damage to the brain substance and the appearance of severe neurological symptoms.
Treatment
How is tick-borne encephalitis treated in children? Therapy for tick-borne encephalitis depends not only on the degree of damage to the child’s body, but also on the route of infection. Treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist .
Independent selection of medications or the use of folk remedies can pose a danger to the baby’s life. Children diagnosed with tick-borne encephalitis must be hospitalized in a medical facility.
The following methods can be used in the treatment of tick-borne encephalitis
- Emergency administration of Immunoglobulin or Yodantipirin (the effectiveness of this method is increased if the drug is administered in the first two days after the child is infected).
- Dehydration therapy (carried out with Lasix).
- The procedure for introducing humidified oxygen into the blood.
- Using lytic mixtures to eliminate agitation.
- Drugs to improve brain trophism (Cavinton, Trental).
- Detoxification therapy (administration of polyglucin and water-salt solutions).
- Course of taking children's Anaferon (for 21 days).
- Anticholinesterase drugs (Prozerin).
- Following a special diet (gentle regimen).
- Exercise therapy and massage treatments.
- Symptomatic therapy (may include taking antibacterial, antiviral drugs, antipyretics and other medications).
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Prevention
If a child has been bitten by a tick, the insect must be taken to the laboratory for examination . If several symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis appear, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
The earlier the disease is detected, the greater the chances of saving the baby and preventing negative consequences.
The only ways to prevent infection are to avoid the child being in places of potential danger, contact with wild animals, paying close attention to his diet and regularly examining his body for ticks.
vaccination can create good protection for the body .
Possible prevention methods include the following recommendations:
- When walking in the forests, the child's clothing must cover most of his body (a headdress is required).
- If you are bitten by a tick, you should immediately contact a medical facility.
- After each walk, the baby’s clothes and body must be carefully examined.
- Milk for the baby must first be boiled (the procedure will destroy the virus).
- Before traveling to places where there is a potential risk of tick bites, it is necessary to undergo passive vaccination with immunoglobulin.
- Regular strengthening of the child's immunity.
Vaccination schedule
several vaccination options are used in medical practice . Each vaccination has certain age restrictions.
Immunity to the virus is developed within two weeks after the vaccine is administered.
The risk of infection is 5%, but a vaccinated baby, even if infected, will survive the disease much easier.
The effect of any vaccinations remains for three years.
Vaccination schedule:
- for babies from three months of age, EnceVir is used;
- Children from one to twelve years old are vaccinated with Encepur;
- FSME-IMMUN can be used to vaccinate children from one to sixteen years of age.
Tick-borne lymphadenitis – Tibola
Rickettsja s Slovakia and Rickettsia raoultii are responsible for TIBOLA - tick-borne lymphadenitis, also called DEBONEL. The new designation for this disease is SENLAT. Tibola is a rickettsial disease first described in France. It has been reported to occur in Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria and Poland.
The parasite infects the Dermacentor reticulatus tick, which relatively rarely attacks people; dogs are more often its victims. A tick bite causes a crust to form on the head and a reactive enlargement of the lymph nodes.
