Encephalitic tick - how does a dangerous virus manifest itself? Tick-borne spring-summer encephalitis (taiga, Russian Far East) Features of the course of tick-borne encephalitis

A number of flaviviruses carried by ticks have been found on the territory of Eurasia. Many of them are known to cause diseases in farm animals, such as sheep rolls (in the UK).

The incidence is characterized by very strong geographical differences. The main risk factors are being in nature and drinking raw milk, especially goat's.

The incubation period lasts 7-14 days, possibly longer.

Taiga spring-summer encephalitis, as a rule, is more acute and more severe than Central European encephalitis, immediately starting with neurological symptoms. It is characterized by high mortality and a high incidence of residual neurological defects, mainly flaccid paralysis of the muscles of the neck, shoulder girdle, shoulder and trunk.

At an early stage of the disease, the virus can be isolated from the blood. After the addition of neurological symptoms, IgM antibodies are detected in the blood and CSF. Sometimes thrombocytopenia develops at an early stage, as with some other flavivirus infections transmitted by ixodid ticks (for example, with the disease of the Kyasanur forest).

There is no etiotropic treatment for these infections.

In Austria, Germany and Russia, effective inactivated vaccines against tick-borne encephalitis with aluminum salts as an adjuvant are produced. The Austrian-made tick-borne encephalitis vaccine provides antiviral immunity if it is administered twice with an interval of 0.5-3 months. Other vaccines are about as effective. In rare cases, vaccination is complicated by Guillain-Barré syndrome, therefore, it is indicated only for people living in natural foci or visiting them in the spring and summer.

In vitro, neutralizing antibodies to Central European encephalitis virus cross-react with taiga spring-summer encephalitis virus and vice versa, but whether vaccination provides cross-protection in the field is unknown.

In natural foci, from 0.2 to 4% of ticks are infected, therefore, if ticks are found on the body, the question of immunoprophylaxis arises. Immunoglobulin against tick-borne encephalitis can be administered immediately, although its effectiveness has not been studied in controlled studies. In any case, the drug should not be administered after the development of the infection, as this may aggravate its course.

Tick-borne encephalitis (spring-summer type encephalitis, taiga encephalitis) is a viral infection that affects the central and peripheral nervous system. Severe complications of acute infection can result in paralysis and death.

The main carriers of the encephalitis virus in nature are ixodid ticks, whose habitat is located throughout the forest and forest-steppe temperate climatic zone of the Eurasian continent. Despite a significant number of species of ixodid ticks, only two species are of real epidemiological significance: Ixodes persulcatus ( taiga tick) in the Asian and in some areas of the European part, Ixodes Ricinus ( European wood tick) - in the European part.

Tick-borne encephalitis is characterized by a strict spring-summer seasonality of the onset of the disease, associated with the seasonal activity of carriers. In the range of I. persulcatus, the disease occurs in spring and the first half of summer (May-June), when the biological activity of this tick species is highest. For ticks of the species I. Ricinus, there is an increase in biological activity twice per season, and in the range of this tick, 2 peaks of the seasonal incidence of tick-borne encephalitis are characteristic: in spring (May-June) and at the end of summer (August-September).

infection human tick-borne encephalitis virus occurs during the blood-sucking of virusophoric ticks. The blood-sucking of the female tick continues for many days, and when fully saturated, it increases in weight 80-120 times. Bloodsucking of males usually lasts several hours and may go unnoticed. Transmission of the tick-borne encephalitis virus can occur in the first minutes of a tick sticking to a person. Infection through the digestive and gastrointestinal tracts is also possible when ingesting raw milk from goats and cows infected with tick-borne encephalitis.

Signs of tick-borne encephalitis. The incubation period of tick-borne encephalitis lasts an average of 7-14 days with fluctuations from one day to 30 days. Transient weakness in the limbs, neck muscles, numbness of the skin of the face and neck are noted. The disease often begins acutely, with chills and fever up to 38-40°C. The fever lasts from 2 to 10 days. There are general malaise, severe headache, nausea and vomiting, weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbances. In the acute period, hyperemia (overflow of the blood vessels of the circulatory system of any organ or area of ​​the body) of the skin of the face, neck and chest, the mucous membrane of the oropharynx, injection of the sclera and conjunctiva is noted.

Pain all over the body and limbs. Muscle pains are characteristic, especially significant in muscle groups, in which paresis (partial loss of muscle strength) and paralysis usually occur in the future. From the moment of the onset of the disease, there may be clouding of consciousness, stupor, the intensification of which can reach the degree of coma. Often, erythema of various sizes (reddening of the skin caused by capillary expansion) appears at the site of tick suction.

If symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis are detected, the patient should be urgently placed in an infectious diseases hospital for intensive treatment.

Treatment patients with tick-borne encephalitis is carried out according to general principles, regardless of previous preventive vaccinations or the use of specific gamma globulin (a drug containing antibacterial and antiviral antibodies) for prophylactic purposes.

In the acute period of the disease, even in mild forms, patients should be prescribed bed rest until the symptoms of intoxication disappear. Almost complete restriction of movement, gentle transportation, minimization of pain irritations improve the prognosis of the disease. No less important role in the treatment is the rational nutrition of patients. The diet is prescribed taking into account functional disorders of the stomach, intestines, liver.

Taking into account the violations of vitamin balance observed in a number of patients with tick-borne encephalitis, it is necessary to prescribe vitamins of groups B and C. Ascorbic acid, which stimulates the function of the adrenal glands, as well as improves the antitoxic and pigmentary functions of the liver, should be administered in an amount of 300 to 1000 mg per day.

Prevention of tick-borne encephalitis

The most effective defense against tick-borne encephalitis is vaccination. Clinically healthy people are allowed to be vaccinated after examination by a therapist. You can only get vaccinated in institutions licensed for this type of activity.

Modern vaccines contain an inactivated (killed) tick-borne encephalitis virus. After the vaccine is administered, the immune system recognizes the viral antigens and learns to fight the virus. Trained cells of the immune system begin to produce antibodies (immunoglobulins) that block the development of the virus that has entered the body. To maintain a protective concentration of immunoglobulin for a long time, it is necessary to administer several doses of the vaccine.

The effectiveness of vaccination can be assessed by the concentration of protective antibodies in the blood (IgG to tick-borne encephalitis virus).

Tick-borne encephalitis vaccines registered in Russia:
- Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine cultured purified concentrated inactivated dry - for children over 4 years of age and adults.
- EnceVir - for children over 3 years old and adults.
- FSME-IMMUNE Injection - from 16 years old.
- FSME-IMMUNE Junior - for children from 1 to 16 years old. (Children should be vaccinated during their first year of life if they are at risk of contracting tick-borne encephalitis.)
- Encepur adult - from 12 years old.
- Enzepur for children - for children from 1 to 11 years old.

The above vaccines differ in virus strains, antigen dose, degree of purification, and additional components. According to the principle of action, these vaccines are the same. Imported vaccines are able to develop immunity to Russian strains of tick-borne encephalitis virus.

Vaccination is carried out after the end of the tick season. In most regions of Russia, it is possible to be vaccinated from November. However, in case of urgent need (for example, if you have to travel to a natural focus of tick-borne encephalitis), you can get vaccinated in the summer. In this case, the protective level of antibodies appears after 21-28 days (depending on the vaccine and the vaccination schedule).

Immunity appears two weeks after the second dose, regardless of the type of vaccine and the chosen regimen. The third dose is administered to consolidate the result. Emergency schemes are not intended to protect after a tick bite, but to develop immunity as quickly as possible if the standard vaccination deadlines were missed.

Local side reactions include: redness, induration, soreness, swelling at the injection site, urticaria (an allergic rash resembling that of a nettle burn), an increase in lymph nodes nearby the injection site. Usual local reactions are observed in 5% of those vaccinated. The duration of these reactions can be up to 5 days.

Common post-vaccination reactions include a rash covering large areas of the body, fever, anxiety, sleep and appetite disturbances, headache, dizziness, short-term loss of consciousness, cyanosis, cold extremities. The frequency of temperature reactions to Russian vaccines does not exceed 7%.

If a tick is bitten, it should be removed immediately. It should be borne in mind that the probability of contracting tick-borne encephalitis depends on the amount of virus that enters during the “bite” of the tick, that is, on the time during which the tick was in a sucking state. If you do not have the opportunity to seek help from a medical institution, then the tick will have to be removed on your own.

When removing a tick yourself, the following recommendations should be observed:

A strong thread as close as possible to the proboscis of the tick is tied into a knot, the tick is removed by pulling it up. Sharp movements are not allowed.

If, when removing the tick, its head came off, which looks like a black dot, the suction site is wiped with cotton wool or a bandage moistened with alcohol, and then the head is removed with a sterile needle (previously calcined on fire). Just like a normal splinter is removed.

Removal of the tick must be done with caution, without squeezing it, since this may squeeze out the contents of the tick, along with pathogens, into the wound. It is important not to break the tick when removed - the remaining part in the skin can cause inflammation and suppuration. At the same time, it should be taken into account that when the tick head is torn off, the infection process can continue, since a significant concentration of the TBE virus is present in the salivary glands and ducts.

There are no grounds for some recommendations that, for better removal, it is recommended to apply ointment dressings to the sucking tick or use oil solutions.

After removing the tick, the skin at the site of its suction is treated with tincture of iodine or alcohol. Bandaging is usually not required.

After removing the tick, save it for testing for infection - usually such a test can be done in an infectious diseases hospital. After removing the tick, place it in a small glass bottle with a tight lid and put a piece of cotton wool slightly moistened with water. Close the bottle with a cap and store it in the refrigerator. For microscopic diagnosis, the tick must be delivered to the laboratory alive.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources

The beginning of the spring-summer season pleases with the first warm days, the appearance of vegetation and the flowering of trees. Along with this, spring carries many dangers for the human body, one of which is taiga. Who or what is the culprit of the most dangerous disease, what symptoms indicate its appearance, and how to deal with it, we will consider in more detail.

What it is?

The disease is common in the Far East, Eastern and Western Siberia, the Urals and the European part of the former USSR. The peak incidence occurs in the last month of spring. During this period, the sanitary and epidemiological services record large outbreaks of infection. The main places of infection with taiga encephalitis are the taiga and forest belts.

Tick-borne viral encephalitis is a serious disease in which inflammatory processes in the brain area are activated. The tick is considered the source of the disease. A virus with a size of 30 millimicrons is able to exist unhindered in a small body of an insect for up to 4 years. The disease is dangerous.

According to statistics, mortality from encephalitis ranges from 2-20%. Most patients who refuse vaccination and timely treatment remain disabled for life.

How to recognize a taiga tick?

Morphology helps to understand the structure of the tick. A tick is an arachnid insect, a feature of which is the division of the body into 2 sections:

• gnathosomes - the area in which the oral cavity is located;
• idiosomes are the remaining part of the body of an insect.

Taxonomy proves that the oral cavity is considered the most dangerous for humans, since it has a proboscis, with which the insect is attached to the body.

At the end of the proboscis is a capsule with prickly parts. From the side parts there are tentacles that perform the role of touch. A small outgrowth on the body is called a hypostome, which resembles a corolla with thorns. With its help, the upper layers of the skin are cut before the bite. Visually, the tick resembles a baggy appearance, the shape of which can change depending on satiety.

Many are interested in what signs to determine whether a tick is full or hungry? Experts inform that in a hungry insect, the dorso-abdominal part of the body is flat and slightly reddish in color, the size of the tick reaches no more than 10 mm. Such a structure and parameters contribute to an increase in the tick's maneuverability when moving through the foliage and human skin. The size of a well-fed arthropod is about 20 mm. In this case, the color of the body becomes lightish, closer to gray.

The color of the cover of the body of the tick depends not only on the degree of satiety, but also on the habitat of the insect.

The dense chitinous cover of the insect's body protects it from possible enemies and makes it invulnerable. That is why it is almost impossible to crush a tick that has not stuck to the body with bare hands. If, however, it was possible to catch the arthropod that bit the body of a person, it should not be killed in any case.

Pathogenesis

When the virus enters the human blood, nerve cells are damaged. Rapidly developing exudative and proliferative processes contribute to the emergence of a dystrophic condition and provoke the death of healthy cells.

Severe lesions are noted in the cells of the brain. It is possible to damage the bulbar centers with the involvement of the membranes and cells of the brain.

The severity of the disease and the danger to humans

From a medical point of view, the seriousness of the taiga tick lies not only in the fact that it is a carrier of taiga tick-borne encephalitis. Arthropod contributes to the development of such diseases:

1. Kemerovo fever

Widespread in Siberia. Reoviruses are responsible for its spread. Birds are the reservoir for the virus. The disease is asymptomatic. In advanced cases, it makes itself felt in the form of blistering rashes. The symptoms are similar to meningitis. The Kemerovo fever virus persists in the taiga tick population for a long time.

1. Borreliosis

The disease is caused by a spirochete. The incubation period is about a month. After the skin is damaged by a tick, itching is noted, red circles appear.

The bite site is difficult to heal, reminiscent of ongoing inflammation. These symptoms are the first signs of developing Lyme disease. Ignoring treatment leads to unpredictable consequences, expressed in violation of the heart, the central nervous system. There is a deterioration in the motor functions of the limbs.

1. Tuleremia

A bacterial disease that affects the lymphatic system.

The danger of damage to the superficial skin by a tick lies in the consequences that can lead not only to disability, but also to the death of the patient.

Course and symptoms, classification

The average incubation period for taiga tick-borne encephalitis is 7-14 days. The disease begins acutely with a sudden rise in temperature to critical levels (39-40 degrees or more). Many patients confuse this condition with the flu. The main difference between tick-borne encephalitis and SARS and influenza is the appearance of pain in the upper chest, flushing of the face, pronounced myalgia with a possible loss of consciousness. The appearance of redness of the pharynx is noted. Spasms and convulsive state in the joints make bending, squatting and moving the patient problematic.

The main symptoms of tick-borne taiga encephalitis are:

• high body temperature (39-40 degrees or more);
• weakness and soreness in the limbs and joints;
• swelling of brain tissue;
• appearance of meningeal syndrome.

These symptoms can lead to death due to the cessation of the full working capacity of the brain.

After a few days after the febrile state, the increase in body temperature is repeated again, only this time the symptoms become pronounced. It is noted:

• paralysis of the muscles of the cervical, shoulder and limbs;
• head hanging on the shoulders;
• heaviness of raising hands;
• muscle atrophy in the tongue area;
• violations of swallowing reflexes and speech;
• paresis or semiparesis of the face.

Untimely access to a doctor leads to the development of a paralytic condition with damage to the respiratory system. The prognosis for recovery is poor. Even in the best cases (with the restoration of motor functions), muscle atrophy continues.

The recovery period may take several years. As residual effects, the patient may be disturbed by: paresis, epileptic seizures, myoclonic twitches and convulsive spasms.

There are the following forms of taiga tick-borne encephalitis:

1. feverish

Differs in a benign form of flow. Occurs with a sharp rise in temperature. The duration of the fever is 3-6 days. The patient is tormented by nausea, food intoxication, dizziness and weakness. The neurology is expressed poorly and quickly disappears.

1. Meningeal

The feverish period is divided from 7 to 10 days. Accompanied by headache, nausea, gag reflexes and meningeal symptoms. There are changes in the cerebrospinal fluid. With timely treatment, the prognosis for recovery is favorable.

1. Meningoencephalitic

It is characterized by a hyperthermic inhibited state. The patient has disorientation of the area, delirium, mental disorders, hallucinations. In some cases, there are convulsions, the symptoms resembling epilepsy. A large amount of protein appears in the cerebrospinal fluid. For 2-4 days, the patient develops paresis and paralysis of the cervical region. Lethal outcome occurs in 25% of patients.

1. Polio

It is a typical form of tick-borne taiga encephalitis.

Symptoms are accompanied by nausea, fever, headaches. At the end of 2-3 weeks of illness, flaccid paralysis of the lower extremities is noted, accompanied by muscle atrophy.

1. Polyradiculoneuritis

Refers to a benign form of tick-borne encephalitis. The prognosis of treatment is favorable. As residual effects, not pronounced paralysis and atrophy of muscle tissues are noted.

1. Dual Wave Clamp

It differs from the previous forms by the onset of the apyrexic state after the main fever. After it, benign encephalomyelitis develops. It takes years for the patient to recover. At the same time, the presence of residual effects in the form of epileptic seizures, a decrease in intellectual abilities, paralysis and muscle atrophy is not excluded. Complete recovery of the patient is impossible.

Diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis varieties is based on the delivery of laboratory tests and observations of the attending physician.

Ways of infection

In order to avoid infection with taiga tick-borne encephalitis, patients are interested in the following questions: how can you get encephalitis and how it is transmitted from person to person. Numerous studies show that the main cause of the disease is a bite (lesion of the skin) by a taiga tick, sometimes by animals: dogs and cats. There have also been cases of human infection with encephalitis after drinking cow's or goat's milk from an infected animal.

Viral encephalitis can be transmitted through the air. An example of this is herpetic encephalitis, the root cause of which lies in the herpes virus. The disease is difficult to treat due to the delay in treatment. The difficulty of diagnosing lies in the fact that patients miss the first symptomatology (in the form of small acne rashes on the body).

The following categories of the population may be at high risk of contracting encephalitis:

• living in the taiga or in the vicinity of the forest belt;
• engaged in hunting, tourism;
• having a weak immune system;
• suffering from depression.

The bite of a taiga tick does not always cause encephalitis. The chance of developing the disease is one in 100. However, there is always a risk of infection. To protect yourself from a dangerous disease, you should not ignore visiting a doctor and conducting appropriate therapeutic treatment.

Is the disease transmitted from person to person?

Taiga tick-borne encephalitis is considered a seasonal disease associated with increased activity of taiga ticks. The risk of infection persists throughout the warm period. To understand whether encephalitis is contagious, it is necessary to have knowledge about the ways the disease is transmitted. The disease is not transmitted sexually and when communicating with an infected person.

The first actions of a person when bitten by a tick

To do this, you need cotton wool, alcohol, thread and a needle. To remove the arthropod, a pre-made loop is wound under the body of the tick. Gradually tightening the knot at the base of the body, the insect slowly swings and stretches.

If the head of the tick remains in the skin, you need to pull out the remnants of the insect with a disinfected needle. After carrying out these activities, it is recommended to conduct laboratory examinations for the presence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in the body.

Treatment

If taiga encephalitis is suspected, the patient is recommended emergency hospitalization for infection. The attending physician examines the patient, draws up a medical history based on the data received from the patient. In such cases, the patient needs to remember as accurately as possible the last time he visited the forest and the first symptomatology.

Treatment involves the following steps:

• introduction of donor immunoglobulin;
• administration of gamma globulin to women in labor living in endemic regions;
• the introduction of prednisolone;
• the introduction of ribonuclease in order to suppress the viral infection.

Of no small importance in the treatment of the patient is therapy aimed at maintaining the water-salt balance, detoxification, dehydration and microbiological studies. In addition to these drugs, the patient is prescribed a vitamin complex and anticonvulsants. Practice shows that the course of treatment can reach 16 or more days. After undergoing the main treatment, the patient is recommended to do a second examination every six months and not to ignore the annual visit to a specialized sanatorium.

Preventive actions

Vaccination can protect against tick-borne taiga encephalitis. In regions with a large number of ticks, vaccination is mandatory. The procedure involves three injections of the vaccine in dosages of 3 and 5 ml with an interval of 10 days. Further revaccination is recommended after 5 months.

The child is vaccinated from the age of 4 (in regions with high rates of tick-borne taiga encephalitis). Selective administration of the vaccine is recommended for people going on a trip or hiking in the forest belt. Of no small importance in the implementation of preventive measures is:

• compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
• the presence of special headgear, clothing and footwear when visiting places inhabited by taiga ticks;
• carrying out timely epidemiological measures;
• conducting a personal examination of things and parts of the body after visiting the forest, taiga and other dangerous areas.

To protect yourself from infection with encephalitis, when a person is bitten by a tick, it is recommended to contact a specialist for help. Modern medicine, combined with the use of innovative methods for determining the disease, makes it possible to identify the virus in the shortest possible time and prescribe the correct treatment.

Summary

Taiga tick-borne encephalitis is a dangerous disease, the virus of which is transmitted by the taiga tick. The danger of the disease lies in the consequences. Timely diagnosis of the disease gives hope for a favorable prognosis.

26.02.2019

Taiga encephalitis is a seasonal disease of an infectious nature, which is manifested by fever, lesions of the central nervous system and the occurrence of meningeal symptoms.

The peak incidence occurs in the spring-autumn period, starting in April.

Visiting the taiga or the forest belt is unsafe for human health and carries a real threat of infection with encephalitis. The disease is common in Western Siberia, the Urals and the Far East.

How to recognize a taiga tick?

The taiga tick belongs to insects, a subspecies of arthropods, a family of ixodid ticks. The causative agent lives in the grass, and with the warming of the ambient temperature, its activity also increases.

The body of the tick is divided into 2 sections:

• gnathosoma with oral cavity and Haller's organs - an accumulation of olfactory receptors that detect the approach of a warm-blooded organism. In the area of ​​the oral cavity of the tick there is a proboscis with a capsule with prickly parts at the end. It is they who damage the skin before the bite;
• idiosoma - an abdomen with numerous legs on which there are suction cups that will help the tick attach to the victim.

The dense chitinous covering of the body of the taiga tick makes it invulnerable to compression. By its color, you can determine the degree of saturation with blood and the region of habitat.

The pathogenesis of taiga encephalitis

The causative agent of taiga encephalitis is a virus of the Flavivirus family. The carrier of infection and natural reservoir is the taiga tick. An additional carrier can be small rodents, predators and birds.

Often sick people aged 20-40 years. Human infection occurs in the following ways:

1. The introduction of the virus during a tick bite.
2. An attempt to self-remove (crush) an insect after it has attached.
3. Eating raw milk of cows or goats without proper heat treatment. A characteristic feature of infection with encephalitis in this way is the group manifestation of the symptoms of the disease.
4. By airborne droplets while working with biological material in the laboratory in violation of safety rules.

The taiga tick can be the causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis. The virus, having invaded the body, begins to actively multiply and circulate with the bloodstream. This is manifested by an increase in body temperature. At this time, the immune system reacts, trying to absorb the virus by phagocytes.

The incubation period without clinical manifestations lasts 5-7 days. In case of insufficient protection, the virus penetrates the blood-brain barrier into the brain, where it further multiplies. This is manifested by the second wave of temperature rise to hectic figures.

The peculiarity is that the fever does not respond to the intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and persists for a long period. In brain cells, the virus causes inflammatory changes, edema and tissue swelling. The immune system is designed in such a way that altered brain cells are perceived by it as foreign. The mechanism of absorption of these cellular structures by proteins and immunoglobulins of the body begins to run.

Development of taiga encephalitis: forms of the disease

The causative agent of taiga encephalitis can cause the following forms of the disease:

1. Feverish form - does not affect the central parts of the nervous system. It is characterized by an increase in overall body temperature to high values ​​​​and severe general clinical symptoms - weakness, lethargy, apathy, tachycardia, confusion, nausea and vomiting without relief and sleep disturbance.
2. The meningeal form affects the brain and its membranes, manifests itself in a severe clinical course and is accompanied by impaired consciousness, tonic-clonic convulsions, visual and auditory hallucinations, hydrocephalus and epileptic manifestations.
3. The polyradiculoneuritic form is accompanied by damage to the cerebral cortex in combination with damage to the peripheral nerves. Clinically, this is manifested by paresthesia and impaired sensitivity.
4. The meningoencephalitic form affects the lining of the brain and leads to meningitis. It proceeds with a violation of consciousness up to a coma.

In addition to taiga encephalitis, the pathogen causes other pathologies:

• Kemerovo fever is asymptomatic. Sometimes rashes are visible on the body in the form of blisters with serous contents;
• boreliosis and Lyme disease - the nervous and cardiovascular systems are affected. The motor functions of the limbs are affected;
• tularemia - localization of the pathological process in the lymph nodes, spleen and the spread of the virus with the lymph flow throughout the body, which leads to the generalization of the disease.

Clinical manifestations

The incubation period of this disease is from 10 to 14 days, but sometimes it is delayed up to 31 days. Such a difference in the duration of this period may be due to the nature of the taiga tick bite. The longer the tick stuck to the victim, the more virus entered the body. In this case, the incubation period will be much shorter.

In the clinical picture, several syndromes are distinguished:

• general infectious;
• meningeal;
• brain injury syndrome.

The disease develops acutely with a sudden rise in temperature to 39 degrees. The patient is agitated, the skin is pale, there is an increase in heart rate, headache, nausea. Vomiting usually does not bring relief. Depending on the localization of inflammatory processes in the brain, the clinical picture also differs.

Symptoms of taiga encephalitis

Diagnosis of encephalitis

For a correct and quick diagnosis at the first stage, it is important to take into account the patient's complaints, data on the history of the disease and information obtained during the physical examination. In addition to complaints, the following criteria are characteristic of taiga encephalitis:

• sudden onset of the disease against the background of complete health with a rise in body temperature to high numbers;
• sometimes the phenomena of the prodromal period are expressed - the day before the onset of the disease, a person notes weakness, headache, malaise, muscle pain in the neck and collar zone of low intensity;
• a two-wave hyperthermic reaction, in which the second wave coincides with the reproduction of the virus.

It is necessary to clarify with the patient whether he was in the endemic focus of taiga encephalitis in spring or summer, whether he consumed raw milk shortly before the onset of symptoms.

Laboratory research methods

From clinical and biochemical analyzes, it is worth paying attention to the following indicators:

1. Increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), moderate leukocytosis with elevated neutrophils, and thrombocytopenia.
2. The presence of protein and casts in the urine.
3. Increased C-reactive protein in the blood.
4. Determination of virus-specific immunoglobulins type M based on the method of phagocytic activity. A high concentration indicates the viral nature of the disease.
5. Detection of an increased amount of class G immunoglobulins.
6. Determination of virus RNA by polymerase chain reaction

Instrumental Methods

Among the instrumental methods, doctors use:

• magnetic resonance imaging;
• puncture of the spinal canal followed by examination of the cerebrospinal fluid;
• computed tomography;
• electroencephalography;
• examination of the eye fundus to detect small petechial hemorrhages;
• electrocardiography and echocardiography to detect possible damage to the heart muscle;
• neurosonography.

Medical treatment

Patients diagnosed with taiga encephalitis are subject to emergency hospitalization with the appointment of strict bed rest for 5 days until the general body temperature returns to normal.

Untimely provision of qualified medical care entails the development of irreversible complications associated with necrotic changes in the cerebral cortex. From drugs, patients receive:

1. Human serum immunoglobulin against taiga encephalitis virus.
2. Detoxification therapy to remove toxins from the body without disturbing the acid-base balance.
3. With cerebral edema or increased intracranial pressure, diuretics are used.
4. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used for hyperthermia and severe pain syndrome.
5. In a severe form of taiga encephalitis and an active inflammatory process, glucocorticosteroid therapy is prescribed.
6. Prescribe drugs that improve microcirculation and blood supply to the brain.
7. In severe forms, in the case of a bacterial infection, antimicrobials are used.
8. Neuroprotectors, antihistamines, and antiplatelet agents are sometimes prescribed.

Prevention

Prevention measures are as follows:

• triple vaccination with an interval of 10 days and subsequent revaccination six months later in regions with a high probability of taiga encephalitis;
• avoid visiting the forest belt during the period of activity of ticks;
• cover open areas of the skin with clothing;
• do not eat raw milk without proper heat treatment;
• carry out the timely destruction of ticks with the help of chemicals;
• conduct a thorough inspection of clothing and personal belongings for tick attachment after a walk in a park or forest.

If a taiga tick is found, you should not try to remove it yourself, since there is a chance of harming yourself even more. It is important to immediately contact a doctor who will remove the insect, give it to the laboratory for examination and take emergency changes to administer a serum or vaccine.

With the advent of spring, the population visits forest areas in order to collect birch sap, the first flowers, organize leisure activities, while forgetting about precautions. Visiting the suburbs and forest areas is always associated with the risk of being bitten by a tick, which causes an outbreak of tick-borne encephalitis.

“Tick-borne encephalitis is a severe disease in which inflammation of the brain occurs. Its causative agent is the smallest organism from the group of viruses, which can only be seen with an electron microscope, which gives an increase of tens and hundreds of thousands of times. The size of the tick-borne encephalitis virus is 30 millimicrons. This smallest organism lives in the body of a forest tick for up to 4 years. The tick is the main keeper of the pathogen in nature and the main source of human infection. Therefore, the disease was called "Tick-borne encephalitis".

q Viral infection is transmitted mainly by ticks q Seasonality - spring - summer q Affects the nervous system q In the absence of proper prevention and treatment, leads to disability (80%) q Mortality ranges from 2% to 20%

Ticks are most active in spring and summer (in some areas - in autumn). At this time, being in nature (it does not matter - in the forest, in a country cottage, fishing) you need to be extremely careful: - try to walk along the paths, away from tall grass and shrubs; - you should put on a scarf or cap on your head, and it is best to walk in a jacket with a hood, trousers should be tucked into boots or pressed with elastic bands to the ankle;

- self and mutual examinations when leaving the forest, returning home - it is necessary to undress and carefully examine the skin - whether a tick has stuck somewhere; - the possibility of infection - the use of raw milk of goats or cows (when boiled, the virus dies after 2 minutes).

Immunoglobulin protects against infection for several weeks (up to a month). If a tick bites you after a few days, you do not need to re-inject. Immunoglobulin should also be administered to a vaccinated person if a lot of ticks have stuck.

Simultaneous intake of cycloferon 4 tablets on the first day, 2 tablets for 2, 4, 6 days of prophylactic treatment.

Self-help and mutual assistance (if you are not in the city) is the removal of a tick: pre-lubricate the bite site with fat (vaseline, sunflower oil), after 15 minutes carefully pull out a loop made of thread, swaying from side to side.

Destruction of the tick should be avoided, as infection with a virus can occur! Treat the bite site with iodine or alcohol.

People whose work is related to staying in the forest (surveyors, foresters, summer residents) should be vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis. Without vaccination, they will not be allowed to work.

The vaccinated get sick less often, they have mild forms in the case of the disease. A full vaccination course consists of 3 vaccinations, so it is best to do 2 vaccinations in the fall, and the last one - 3 vaccinations in the spring 2 weeks before entering the forest. You can get vaccinated according to an abbreviated scheme - two vaccinations, but the effectiveness of such vaccination is lower. In order to maintain immunity to tick-borne encephalitis, it is necessary to repeat the vaccination next spring. Revaccination every 3 years.

The spread of ticks, carriers of the encephalitis virus, has recently been on the rise, including those associated with human economic activity (it is better to say with mismanagement - the organization of spontaneous dumps and garbage heaps) and an increase in the number of mice, carriers of ticks. Visiting the suburbs and forest zones is always associated with the risk of tick bites and tick-borne encephalitis. There are some simple folk ways to repel ticks.

There is experience of highly efficient use of impregnation of clothes with exhaust gases of diesel engines of cars and tractors for 30 seconds. After such treatment, mites are not found on clothes for 4-5 hours. The natural enemy of ticks is forest ants. The acid they produce is a natural repellant and can be used to protect against ticks. Formic alcohol, which, after dilution with water by 20-30 times, can be used to treat clothes and skin of the lower extremities before visiting forests, summer cottages and recreational areas. The smell of formic alcohol repels ticks.

In the forest zone, you can resort to a different method of processing clothes and skin, limbs with this tool. You can put your palms in an anthill of red ants for a few seconds and then process them with gacha pants, so ticks live mainly on shrubs and in the grass zone no higher than 70 cm above the ground. The reception should be repeated several times, and the sleeves and collar of clothing can be processed for greater reliability of protective measures.

Of course, all of the above does not exclude the possibility of using repellents sold in pharmacies. But if they are not, do not neglect our simple, but very effective means.

What is encephalitis? Tick-borne Encephalitis is a viral natural focal disease with a primary lesion of the central nervous system Mosquito

Scheme of life cycles of mites 3 2 16,000 eggs 2. Blood sucking female laying eggs 3. Larva.

Methods of infection Tick bite Tick saliva contains blood thinners and painkillers Crushing and rubbing a sucked tick Eating infected raw goat and cow milk

Infection conditions Visiting the forest 1. The tick sits on blades of grass or trees. 2. Cannot fly or jump. 3. Can cling to prey. 4. May fall on her. Introduction of ticks by animals (dogs, cats) Introduction of ticks by people (on clothes, with flowers, branches)

How does the disease develop? 1. Incubation period - 1.5 -2 weeks 2. Damage to the cerebral cortex (soft shell and gray matter) several days 3. Inflammation of the entire brain (white matter) Symptoms: - headaches - vomiting - loss of consciousness (up to coma) - body t 39 -40 C.

Complications of tick-borne encephalitis Lethal outcome (death) In 30-60% of those who have been ill From 2% to 20% Flaccid paralysis of the limbs Complete paralysis of the left limb Violation of the activity of the neck muscles

First aid for a tick bite What to do? 1. Lubricate the sucked tick with fat (Vaseline, cream, sunflower oil) 2. Wait 12-20 minutes 3. Carefully pull out the tick with a thread loop or tweezers, swaying from side to side 4. Try not to destroy the tick 5. Burn or pour the removed tick boiling water 6. Treat the bite site with alcohol, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, etc. 7. Wash your hands Do not do it! You can not crush the tick, because you can become infected with the virus contained in its internal organs

Prevention of tick-borne encephalitis Wearing special clothing in the forest Self- and mutual examinations at the exit from the forest and at halts Boiling raw goat and cow's milk Use of liquid and aerosol preparations for insect control

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Where is malaria common? Malaria is common in Asia, Africa and Central and South America. Approximately 100 countries; approximately 40% of the world's population is at risk of developing malaria. If you are going to any of these countries, be sure to take precautions.

Kills people... This infection threatens almost a third of the world's population. More than 2 million people die from malaria every year in the world. In Africa alone, 1 in 20 children die of malaria or its consequences, and 1,500 women in childbirth die every day. For example, in India, the incidence of malaria has increased 70-fold over the past 20 years, reaching a record high of 50 million cases per year.