Description encephalitis
Tick-borne encephalitis is an infectious viral disease affecting the brain and brain membrane. Virus encephalitis, belonging to the so-called. Flaviviruses are transmitted mainly by ticks ormosquitoes or alimentary route (ingestion of inadequately cooked cow, goat or sheep milk).
Risk factors for encephalitis
Among the risk factors for this disease we belong in the wild without proper skin protection (long pants, long sleeves, boots etc.) and use insect repellent.
Another risk factor may be the age of the patient. Patients over 60 years, the course of illness worse and more complicated, increasing the risk of paralysis of the limbs, in cases nejčerněších end this disease deaths.
Prevention of tick-borne encephalitis
The best and most effective protection against this insidious disease is vaccination course. You can be vaccinated at any time during the year, just before the start of tick season. The vaccine is administered either three or four doses. It should however be borne in mind that the vaccine starts to operate up to two weeks after the second dose. The vaccination protects us reliably for three years.
Tick-borne encephalitis infection can be prevented by avoiding tick that caught our skin and eventually latch on. And so we go into the wild properly equipped high and sturdy shoes, long pants and sleeves.
Tick can capture any part of the human body, it looks especially places where the skin is uncovered (eg. The gap between the end of the legs and shoes) and from there travels to the hot and humid ch body region. These parasites are prone to dry, and therefore, if they reach the place soon, which is good for the bite, begins with your host or dies. It is also advisable to use prior to their stay in the countryside repellent.
Ticks are found in the maximum height of 60 centimeters from the ground, particularly in the high grass. The possibility that we tick attacks from the air, for example. Jumping or falling from a tree is a mere fallacy.
If an infected tick bites, the possibility of human infection increases with the length of time that the parasite was next.
Once the tick prisăo need it as soon as possible. Throughout the process we protect rubber gloves.Tick sprinkle alcohol disinfection (using fatty funding is inappropriate) and wait about five minutes. Then we use special tweezers for stripping or tick tweezers. Tick catch at the point where it is in close contact with the skin and a rocking motion to remove it. Again we rub the affected area with disinfectant. Tick liquidate a drop of disinfectant and throwing him into the toilet bowl. Never nail nerozmačkáváme, ignite or thrown away in the trash!
Symptoms of encephalitis
After virus encephalitis penetrates into our organism occurs incubation period, but still no signs of the disease and occurs quite straightforward. This period usually lasts a week or two weeks, but may take up to a month.
The course of this disease can be divided into two phases.
After the end of the incubation period starts the first phase, which entails a slight flu symptoms.Patient is suffering from joint and muscle pain, fever, nausea, you may feel weak and lethargic.Laboratory tests revealed that at this time there is a reduction in the number of white blood cells.
After several days of this phase retreats and comes period of calm, without any symptoms of illness, lasting about two weeks. Selected individuals who fall ill with the disease, do not have symptoms of the first phase at all regarding the disease and breaks them straight second phase. In some patients the disease can even finish this phase and it is possible that there will be a full recovery.
Unless someone not so lucky, started the second phase, which can be characterized by high fever, severe headache, photophobia, nausea, vomiting, solidifying the muscles of her neck, muscle tremors, paralysis, sleep disorders, memory and concentration, and generaldisorientation.
These very severe symptoms are caused zasáhnutím nervous system (meningitis, cerebral cortex, medulla, anterior horn etc.) with this virus. The immune system, which is inflammation of combating the disease, increasing the number of white blood cells and to increase the amount of protein in CSF which is otherwise absent.
In the event that this infectious disease in time underpin and start specialized treatment may result in complete recovery. Provided with treatment or postponing the disease course complicated can this virus to the patient and leave lasting effects, eg. Chronic headaches, sleep disorders and concentration, paralysis of the upper extremities, reduced production rate, depression.
In exceptional cases, a patient consequences of this disease and even succumb to it when there is an inflammatory attack center for heart and respiratory center in the medulla.
Treatment of tick-borne encephalitis
If a person visits a doctor suspected of having the disease, it will be a blood sampling. Provided blood finding reveals the presence of antibodies to this virus, the patient is diagnosed with encephalitis. However, antibodies in the blood may also occur after a recent vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis or other relatives after being infected with the virus.
It is imperative that the sick man was immediately hospitalized and entrusted to the care of experts.
Shortly after admission to the hospital, the patient is introduced by infusion. Sets forth an at least partial pain relief and, secondly, because his body frequent vomiting dehydrated and need to irrigate. The patient’s blood is taken again to find out what substances a person is missing and, conversely dwell.
Next comes the ophthalmologist to examine the eye background. After these processes, followed by collection of CSF. Cerebrospinal fluid is the optimal source of information on the progress of the disease and because of his investigations may be appropriate treatment initiated. Sampling is done so. Lumbar puncture (puncture the lumbar region).
It is necessary to observe the patient needed bed rest, restrict all physical activity and eschewed mental exertion. Failure to follow this procedure can cause health deterioration and prolong the hospital stay.
Some patients may experience spontaneous healing, however, especially in severe and complicated course of the disease, the patient may suffer permanent damage and in the worst cases even die.Therefore, it is important to catch the disease in time and undergo professional treatment.
How can I help myself
In cases where human illness this infectious disease can not be trifled with all sorts of alternative medicines and practices of healers. This disease is particularly serious and complicated and inappropriate treatment during consecutive can leave permanent damage in the worst case may cause a patient’s death. Therefore, immediately contact your service professionals who know best how the treatment of tick-borne encephalitis proceed.
Complications encephalitis
If this infectious disease complicated course, did not start if the treatment in time or not, if adhered to sleep mode, the patient may suffer permanent disabilities such. Chronic headaches, sleep disorders and concentration, paralysis of the upper extremities etc. These consequences affects approximately one one quarter of patients.
Other names: tick-borne encephalitis