In the summer period, the prevention of encephalitis in children and adults is especially acute. However, few people know that this disease is not always the result of infection from a tick bite. Almost any viral or bacterial infection can cause encephalitis. Moreover, in children this disease is more common than in adults, since in infants the immune system and the body's ability to defend themselves are not yet sufficiently developed.
What is encephalitis? What should be done to avoid infection? What are the symptoms and treatment of encephalitis? How should it be diagnosed and which specialists are best addressed? This article will help you find out the answers to these questions, and then no disease can catch you by surprise.
Definition of ailment
Encephalitis is an acute disease, the development of which is associated with a viral or bacterial infection and the result of which is a damage to the substance of the brain.
What is dangerous encephalitis? Symptoms in children and adults are characterized by a serious condition of the patient, which in itself has a negative effect. However, the end of the disease has an even greater negative effect. The consequences of encephalitis are often complete or partial paralysis, neuropsychic abnormalities and even death.
The causative agents of the disease provoke edema and hemorrhage, destroy the membranes and processes of neurons, damage the structure of the subcortical nuclei of the brain, as well as its white and gray matter. In addition, a bacterial infection can cause purulent infection of the pia mater.
Different types of encephalitis
Since this disease is caused by various causes and pathogens, the symptoms of encephalitis in children (as in adults) can sometimes differ in their severity and duration.
Therefore, let us first determine what groups and subspecies the disease is divided into, and only then we will talk about its treatment and prevention.
In accordance with the cause of the occurrence, encephalitis is primary and secondary.
Primary encephalitis is an independent ailment excited by the negative effect of the virus on the body. In accordance with various causes of development, primary encephalitis can be:
- viral (herpes, flu, enterovirus, cytomegalovirus, with rabies, etc.);
- bacterial (neurosyphilis, typhus);
- seasonal (tick-borne, mosquito, etc.).
Secondary encephalitis usually occurs as a complication or continuation of an existing disease. It is a consequence of:
- infection with parasites (chlamydial, malarial, toxoplasmosis);
- bacterial infection (tuberculosis, streptococcal, staphylococcal);
- complications (after measles, rubella, chickenpox);
- vaccination (after vaccination against rubella, mumps, measles).
Post-vaccine encephalitis is a rather rare and uncharacteristic phenomenon. But still, if after vaccination the child has a high fever and a headache, it is worth paying special attention to these symptoms.
What is the way the infection spreads to the brain? This happens with the flow of blood when the causative agents of the disease, once in the bloodstream, are sent to the very center of the nervous system.
It is also likely airborne transmission of encephalitis (with herpes), contact-household and alimentary (enterovirus).
Sometimes the cause of encephalitis is the toxic effect of poisons with carbon monoxide or contact with heavy metals, as well as an allergic reaction to various pathogens.
So, we got acquainted with the causes and mechanism of the development of the disease. Therefore, a quite relevant question arises: what exactly are the signs (symptoms) of encephalitis in humans?
How to identify a disease
The way the disease manifests itself depends largely on the source of its appearance. However, there is a general list of symptoms of encephalitis in humans.
First of all, this is a sharp increase in body temperature, cramps, delirium and confused consciousness, severe migraine. Therefore, if the child has a temperature and a headache (and changes in his condition occurred quickly and abruptly) - it is worth the alarm.
How does encephalitis of different types proceed? Let's find out, as early detection of the disease will positively affect its cure.
Tick-borne encephalitis. Types, symptoms
Tick-borne encephalitis in children is very dangerous. He can leave behind him incurable consequences - neurological disorders that can permanently make a child disabled.
It is probably no secret that the most likely encephalitis carrier of this type is a tick. The tick lives mainly in shady shrubs and grass, so if you went out of town, walked in the park or worked in the garden, you should carefully examine the skin to detect this small pest.
You should be aware that the tick does not always remain on the human body after a bite. Often, males quickly leave a stung place, unlike females, which can sit on a wound for several days, eating blood and increasing in volume. Therefore, if you have not found a tick on your body or on the child’s body, but you have unpleasant alarming symptoms, you should immediately go to the hospital.
Remember that the incubation period of encephalitis (that is, the time from the moment of the bite until the onset of symptoms) lasts from one to three weeks and is accompanied by weakness, body aches and fever. Later, convulsions, loss of consciousness, coma join them.
It is noteworthy that the older the person, the harder he tolerates the disease and the more difficult his recovery will be.
In medicine, several forms of tick-borne encephalitis occur:
- Feverish (fever up to forty-one degrees, weakness, chills, pain in muscles and bones).
- Meningeal (high blood pressure, severe and frequent vomiting, convulsions, photophobia).
- Cerebral (impaired consciousness, convulsions, epileptic seizures).
- Polio (chronic disorders of swallowing and breathing, paralysis of the muscles of the upper limbs and neck).
Again, the symptoms of encephalitis in children can occur in different ways and resemble the picture of other infectious diseases. Therefore, it is important to quickly identify the cause of the ailment, consult a doctor and begin treatment. If the child has a temperature and a headache, a specialist should be consulted.
Epidemic Encephalitis. Definition, symptoms
Epidemic encephalitis is also very common and dangerous. The causative agent of encephalitis of this form has not yet been determined, but it has recently been revealed that it lives in saliva and mucus and quickly dies when it enters the external environment. It is noteworthy that in the first ten years of life, children rarely suffer from this disease.
Since epidemic encephalitis can be infected by airborne droplets, it is natural that its carriers are virus carriers and those directly affected. The incubation period of encephalitis ranges from one week to two months.
The symptoms accompanying the disease are very multifaceted. This is the usual high fever in this disease, and vomiting, and drowsiness. Other signs are also noteworthy - strabismus, unsteady gait, tinnitus, increased anxiety, mental disorders and decreased intelligence.
Enterovirus encephalitis. Symptomatology
Enterovirus encephalitis is accompanied by vomiting and headache, paralysis of the extremities and epileptic seizures. The latter are most often found in children of a very young age.
Herpetic encephalitis. Definition, symptoms
Herpetic encephalitis is a consequence of the herpes virus, so it is possible to become infected with it both by airborne droplets and contact household.
The incubation period of this ailment can be a whole month. The disease can be accompanied by convulsions, loss of consciousness, skin rashes, vomiting, aggression, various kinds of hallucinations.
If the child is more than ten years old, herpetic encephalitis can develop into a chronic disease, and in young children without proper treatment, it can be fatal. Most often, herpetic encephalitis is provoked by SARS and stomatitis.
Secondary encephalitis. Types, symptoms
Secondary encephalitis is the result of serious infectious diseases such as measles, rubella, chickenpox and others. Therefore, if the underlying disease goes away, but encephalitic syndromes are observed, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Typically, secondary encephalitis appears on day 1-10 of the rash and is accompanied by fever, vomiting, and seizures. Sometimes (for example, with measles encephalitis), parkinsonism and even blindness can be observed. With chickenpox encephalitis in small children, head trembling, shaky gait, tremors and chanted speech are possible.
Post-vaccine encephalitis
Post-vaccine encephalitis is observed mainly in school-age children and often proceeds in an acute form, in the form of various neurological disorders and disorders.
So, we figured out what are the symptoms of encephalitis in children. Now let's see how it is possible to diagnose and treat this disease, as well as analyze preventive measures and ways to prevent the ailment.
Diagnosis process
If you find in yourself or your child some of the symptoms of encephalitis described in this article, you should immediately go to the hospital. It is necessary to visit such specialists:
- pediatrician or therapist;
- neurologist;
- an infectious disease specialist.
Since encephalitis has pronounced severe manifestations that are very similar to the symptoms of other diseases, a thorough diagnosis must be carried out.
Diagnosis of encephalitis includes, first of all, a general analysis of blood and urine, as well as radiography of the lungs and MRI of the brain. In addition, you may need to do a lumbar puncture (that is, taking a cerebrospinal fluid for analysis).
How can these tests help detect encephalitis? The diagnosis of this disease is as follows:
- A blood test will detect specific antibodies that can help you recognize diseases (for example, white blood cells may be elevated or ESR may be accelerated).
- MRI or CT will allow you to see the affected foci of the brain or hemorrhage in the brain.
- A puncture, or cerebrospinal fluid analysis, will reveal an increased amount of sugar, protein and lymphocytes with a bloody impurity.
Also, in some cases, a virological analysis of swabs from the nasopharynx can be prescribed, which will help determine the level of specific antibodies. In case of inefficiency of other diagnostic methods, a brain biopsy is possible (that is, taking samples of brain tissue). Sometimes an electroencephalogram, which can record changes in the electrical activity of the brain, can be an actual diagnostic method.
Disease treatment process
Since the effects of encephalitis are very dangerous, it is necessary to begin treatment as soon as possible.
How is the treatment of this ailment proceeding? Of course, the purpose of a particular drug depends on the form and type of the disease. However, the patient will definitely be offered hospitalization. This should not be refused - the best, high-quality and speedy treatment can only be provided inpatiently.
Therapy of encephalitis is carried out comprehensively and in several directions:
- Decrease in body temperature. To do this, children will need tools, which include Ibuprofen or Paracetamol.
- Antibiotic therapy. Antibiotics will help here. With tick-borne encephalitis - "Benzylpenicillin" and "Doxycycline", with mixed - "Levomycetin" and "Cefotaxime" and so on.
- Recovery of the nervous system. For this, ascorbic acid and B vitamins are used, as well as Piracetam and Pantogam.
- Immunostimulating therapy. The basis of this treatment is the activation of the patient's immunity. Anti-encephalitis immunoglobulin is prescribed to recognize and neutralize the causative agent of the disease. Immunoglobulin preparations are available in many pharmacies in our country. They are extracted from human plasma and is a protein of a globular nature. This type of therapy can be carried out both intramuscularly and intravenously.
- Elimination of symptoms. For example, with severe convulsions, "Seduxen" or "Sibazon" is prescribed, with the development of paralysis - "Proserin".
Naturally, accurate and detailed treatment will be prescribed only in a hospital. Therefore, it is vital that you follow all the doctor’s instructions carefully.
Preventative measures
How to avoid encephalitis infection?
The first thing you can protect yourself and your child with is timely vaccination. Vaccination against encephalitis (tick-borne) occurs during routine or emergency immunization. Thanks to the vaccine, the body will be able to develop antibodies to combat a future disease.
In addition, it is necessary in a regulated manner to vaccinate against diseases that can cause the development of encephalitis. For example, there is a schedule developed by the Ministry of Health for vaccinating children of preschool and school age against measles, chickenpox and rubella. Therefore, do not refuse to immunize a child.
Another important way of prevention is to isolate the patient with encephalitis from healthy people, especially children. The room should be in the process of constant ventilation, and the personal belongings of the infected should be regularly disinfected.
And of course, an important measure for the prevention of tick-borne encephalitis is the protection of the skin from the bite of a harmful insect. Before going to the forest, it is necessary to wear the most closed clothes that fit tightly to the body, preferably light, plain color. During and after visiting the risk zone, you should carefully examine yourself and your child (especially the hair), as well as pets. Arriving home, things must be thoroughly shaken and ventilated.
If the tick was discovered, you should definitely contact a medical institution and, if possible, do not try to remove the insect yourself.
Good health to you!