Tick-borne encephalitis - incubation period, symptoms and treatment

May and June is the most dangerous for outdoor enthusiasts. At this time in the active breeding phase ticks come in, the bites of which are capable of representing a serious danger not only to human health, but also to their life. The parasite can carry a pathogen tick-borne encephalitis, but this fact will not be reflected in his life. The incubation period of encephalitis in humans can be completely asymptomatic, which significantly reduces the chances of a quick recovery.

How long does the incubation period last?

The activation time of the encephalitis virus depends on many factors. Different people may have a different severity. Encephalitis virus enters the body at the time of damage to the skin of a person tick. Even if the parasite is immediately removed, this does not guarantee safety.

On a note!

The most dangerous situation will be if Tick-borne Encephalitis was not fully extracted or was crushed. In this case, the amount of virus that enters the human body through an open wound increases significantly.

If a trace of tick bite you should carefully monitor your condition. The first 3-4 days will observe a classic reaction to a bite. It is characterized by irritation and itchy. If the tick was not a carrier of encephalitis, the symptoms themselves will disappear.

Optimal if possible send a bitten tick for examination. In this case, if he is not qualified as a distributor of the disease, classic preventive measures to maintain the body will be applied to the patient. If the tick is a carrier of encephalitis, treatment will be prescribed immediately.

It is much more difficult to act when there is no exact information about the infection of the parasite. The first signs of tick-borne encephalitis can appear only after 1-3 weeks. This is a conditional value, since the severity of the disease depends on various factors.

Such a long incubation period is explained by the localization of the spread of tick-borne encephalitis virus. Initially, he begins his activity in the subcutaneous area. Next, tick-borne encephalitis passes into the vessels, lymph nodes, and tissues of the nervous system. After 10-20 days, the overgrown virus already affects the systems and organs so much that the symptomatology becomes pronounced.

Tick-borne encephalitis symptoms in adults

Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis may vary depending on the form of the disease. To date, there are 7 of them:

1. Febrile. The patient is often confused with the common cold. General intoxication, fever, chills, weakness is observed. This condition lasts from 5 to 7 days. After this comes the stage of recovery.
2. Meningeal. Has the highest percentage of diagnosis.Patients complain of headaches, a painful reaction to light and sounds, a company, nausea, and pain in the eyes are added to this condition. In severe cases, hallucinations, increased activity, muscle cramps are noted. Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis of this form are observed within 2-3 weeks, after which the patient recovers.
3. Meningoencephalitic. Symptoms that are characteristic of brain damage are added to the manifestations of the meningeal form. Most often, uncontrolled muscle contractions, facial distortions are noted in patients, the face is skewed. Speech disturbance, respiratory complication, and arrhythmia are also noted. The most terrible consequence may be cerebral edema and the death of the patient.
4. Polyencephalitic. The incubation period lasts about 3-5 days. Further, the body temperature rises, it is difficult to swallow, pain from light and sounds, the mouth twists on one side. The second side of the face ceases to function normally, a person cannot eat. Respiratory activity and the work of the vasomotor center are disrupted, which threatens a critical condition and death.
5. Polio. It occupies the third part among all those encountered. Symptoms are similar to polio. It is characterized by asymmetric paralysis of the upper limbs, muscle weakness, which does not allow to move the limbs or even the head. Symptoms increase about 15-30 days, after which muscle atrophy occurs. A patient with encephalitis becomes disabled without the ability to move and independently provide for his vital needs.
6. Polyencephalomyelitis. At the same time, muscle, respiratory ability, and vasomotor center are affected. A person has irreversible consequences, after which either death or a severe form of disability occurs.
7. Polyradiculoneuritis form. Muscle weakness is observed, which begins with the lower extremities and gradually rises. Goosebumps, tingling, burning sensations are felt on the body.

Important!

For accurate diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis, a number of laboratory tests can be performed. More accurate results can be obtained by analyzing a bitten tick, blood test for encephalitis.

Factors affecting the duration of the incubation period

How serious the lesion will be and how quickly the incubation period of encephalitis will go after a tick bite depends on many factors. Fundamental is the condition of the person at the time of the bite. If his immune system works in a calm mode and is ready to resist viruses, then this period increases.

Important!

The risk group includes categories of people with weakened or unformed immunity. These are elderly people, children and pregnant women. In this case, the manifestation of the disease can be a couple of days after a tick bite.

Also, for the rapid multiplication of tick-borne encephalitis virus in the body, people who have various kinds of autoimmune diseases and their defenses cannot work at full capacity are predisposed.

If a person has an excellent protective system, leads a healthy lifestyle and his body is able to withstand even tick-borne encephalitis viruses, then he may not even know about the presence of a pathogen. The body itself will fight the disease and not give any signals. At this time, the immune system will develop special antibodies to the virus, and the disease will be defeated. In this case, to find out that after a tick bite the causative agent of a dangerous disease was introduced, it will be possible only by passing a blood test.

What can be the complications

The insidious incubation period of tick-borne encephalitis can lead to the fact that the disease will progress in the body, and the necessary treatment measures will be absent.As a result, the virus is so rampant that it will cause many dangerous diseases.

Tick-borne encephalitis affects the work of the brain and nervous system, therefore, often in patients with a late diagnosis, epilepsy appears. The activity of the virus will lead to:

• paralysis;
• squint;
• problems with speech;
• difficulty swallowing.

Important!

According to statistics, the most favorable outcome after encephalitis tick bite observed in the European part of Russia. With the distance from the center to the East, the number of fatalities increases significantly.

A person affected by an encephalitis tick in most cases becomes disabled for life. The most sad outcome of the disease is cerebral edema, coma and inevitable death.

The acquired effects after a tick bite cannot be cured at the moment. Therefore, it is very important to monitor your condition and, at the slightest suspicion, turn to specialists.

Tick-borne encephalitis treatment

The effects of tick-borne encephalitis it is impossible to cure completely. But the sooner treatment was started, the greater the chances of a positive outcome. The disease should be treated in several directions:

1. Reduce symptoms.
2. Increase the body's resistance to viruses.
3. Specific impact

First of all, after diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis, specialists try to reduce the severity of symptoms. This is a method of antipyretic, analgesic sedatives. Additionally prescribed funds to improve blood flow.

Also, after a tick bite, antiviral drugs should be taken, which are designed to enhance the body's defenses and help it fight the virus. Amixin, Viferon, Cycloferon are among these drugs.

On a note!

The specific effect is the introduction tick-borne immunoglobulin. Also, for these purposes, serum of patients with tick-borne encephalitis can be introduced.

Prevention

Given the danger of tick-borne encephalitis and the increase in the number of cases, doctors recommend vaccination, which will protect the body from infection and significantly strengthen the immune system.

The introduction of a purified virus in a minimal amount to the patient forces the body to produce antibodies. The result will be that in a few weeks a person will gain reliable protection, and the bite of even an infected tick will be intrepid.

On a note!

Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine It has high performance indicators. In 97% of cases with the introduction of the vaccine, people managed to avoid the development of the disease. And only in 3% the immunity could not develop and people fell ill.

Vaccination consists of 3 successive stages:

1. First introduction in the fall.
2. The second introduction after 3 months.
3. The third vaccine in a year.

You can also go through an accelerated version and get 2 vaccinations against the danger of a tick bite with an interval of 2 weeks.

Important!

Before vaccination, be sure to consult a specialist and pass the necessary tests.

The introduction of even a small dose of tick-borne encephalitis in a weakened body can lead to serious consequences. It is strictly forbidden to be vaccinated in the following cases:

• exacerbation of allergies;
• transition to the acute phase of chronic diseases (tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus and others);
• pregnancy;
• viral diseases of any kind.

Vaccinations can be given even to children older than 1 year. The vaccine produces temporary immunity, therefore, approximately every 2 years have to be re-immunized.