In the summer, the issue of encephalitis prevention 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. Encephalitis can be caused by almost any viral or bacterial infection. Moreover, in children, such a disease occurs more often than in adults, since the immune system and the body's ability to defend itself are still insufficiently developed in children.
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 to contact? This article will help you find out the answers to these questions, and then no disease can take you by surprise.
Illness definition
Encephalitis is an acute disease, the development of which is associated with a viral or bacterial infection and the result of which is damage to the substance of the brain.
How dangerous is encephalitis? Symptoms in children and adults are characterized by a serious condition of the patient, which in itself has a negative impact. 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 a purulent infection of the pia mater.
Different types of encephalitis
Since this disease is caused by different causes and pathogens, the symptoms of encephalitis in children (as in adults) can sometimes differ in severity and duration.
Therefore, let's first decide what groups and subspecies the disease is divided into, and only then we'll talk about its treatment and prevention.
According to the cause, encephalitis is primary and secondary.
Primary encephalitis is an independent disease, excited by the negative impact of the virus on the body. According to different causes of development, primary encephalitis can be:
- viral (herpes, influenza, enterovirus, cytomegalovirus, rabies, etc.);
- bacterial (neurosyphilis, typhus);
- seasonal (tick, mosquito, etc.).
Secondary encephalitis occursusually as a complication or continuation of an already existing disease. It is a consequence of:
- parasitic infections (chlamydia, malaria, toxoplasmosis);
- bacterial infection (tuberculous, streptococcal, staphylococcal);
- complications (after measles, rubella, chickenpox);
- vaccination (after rubella, mumps, measles).
Post-vaccination encephalitis is a rather rare and uncharacteristic phenomenon. But still, if after vaccination the child has a high temperature and a headache, you should pay special attention to these symptoms.
What is the route of infection to the brain? This is what happens in the bloodstream when pathogens enter the bloodstream and travel to the very center of the nervous system.
Also, airborne transmission of encephalitis (with herpes), contact-household and alimentary (enterovirus) is also quite likely.
Sometimes the cause of encephalitis is the toxic effects of poisons from 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 appropriate question arises: what are the specific signs (symptoms) of encephalitis in humans?
How to identify the disease
The way the disease manifests itself largely depends on the source of its occurrence. However, there is a general list of symptoms of encephalitis in humans.
First of all, this is a sharp increasebody temperature, convulsions, delirium and confusion, severe migraine. Therefore, if a child has a fever and a headache (moreover, changes in his condition occurred quickly and abruptly), it is worth sounding the alarm.
How does encephalitis of different types proceed? Let's find out, because the early detection of the disease will positively affect its cure.
Tick-borne encephalitis. Types, symptoms
Tick-borne encephalitis in children is very dangerous. It can leave behind incurable consequences - neurological disorders that can permanently disable a child.
It's probably not a secret for anyone that the most likely carrier of encephalitis of this type is a tick. The tick lives mainly in shady bushes and grass, so if you have traveled out of town, walked in the park or worked in the garden, you should carefully examine the skin for this little pest.
You should know that the tick does not always remain on the human body after a bite. Often, males quickly leave the stung place, unlike females, which can sit on the wound for several days, feeding on blood and increasing in volume. Therefore, if you did not find a tick on your body or on the body of a child, but you have unpleasant warning symptoms, you should immediately go to the hospital.
Remember that the incubation period of encephalitis (that is, the time from the moment you are bitten until the onset of symptoms) lasts from one to three weeks and is accompanied by weakness, body aches and fever. Later to themconvulsions, loss of consciousness, coma join.
It is noteworthy that the older a person is, the more severely he suffers the disease and the more difficult his recovery will be.
In medicine, there are several forms of tick-borne encephalitis:
- Feverish (temperature rise to forty-one degrees, weakness, chills, muscle and bone pain).
- Meningeal (high blood pressure, severe and frequent vomiting, convulsions, photophobia).
- Cerebral (disorders of consciousness, convulsions, epileptic seizures).
- Poliomyelitis (chronic disorders of swallowing and breathing, paralysis of the muscles of the upper limbs and neck).
We repeat that the symptoms of encephalitis in children can proceed 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 a child has a fever and a headache, a specialist should definitely 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 identified, 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 get sick with this disease.
Since epidemic encephalitis can be infected by airborne droplets, it is natural that its carriers are virus carriers and those who are directly ill. The incubation period for encephalitis ranges from one week totwo months.
The symptoms that accompany the disease are very multifaceted. This is the usual high temperature for this disease, and vomiting, and drowsiness. Other signs are also notable - strabismus, unsteady gait, tinnitus, increased anxiety, mental disorders and decreased intelligence.
Enterovirus encephalitis. Symptoms
Enterovirus encephalitis is accompanied by vomiting and headache, paralysis of limbs and epileptic seizures. The latter are most common in very young children.
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 household contact.
The incubation period of this disease can be a whole month. The disease may be accompanied by convulsions, loss of consciousness, skin rashes, vomiting, aggression, and various kinds of hallucinations.
If a child is over ten years old, herpes encephalitis can develop into a chronic disease, and in young children without proper treatment can be fatal. Most often, herpetic encephalitis is provoked by SARS and stomatitis.
Secondary encephalitis. Types, symptoms
Secondary encephalitis is the result of severe infectious diseases such as measles, rubella, chickenpox and others. Therefore, if the underlying disease passes, but encephalitic syndromes are observed, one should immediatelysee a doctor.
Usually secondary encephalitis appears on the 1-10th day of the rash and is accompanied by fever, vomiting and convulsions. Sometimes (for example, with measles encephalitis), parkinsonism and even blindness can be observed. With varicella encephalitis in young children, head tremors, a wobbly gait, tremors, and scrambled speech are possible.
Post-vaccination encephalitis
Post-vaccination encephalitis occurs mainly in school-age children and often occurs 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 disease.
Diagnosis process
If you or your child experience any of the encephalitis symptoms listed in this article, you should immediately go to the hospital. It is necessary to visit such specialists:
- pediatrician or therapist;
- neurologist;
- infectious disease specialist.
Since encephalitis has pronounced severe manifestations, which are very similar to the symptoms of other diseases, it is imperative to conduct a thorough diagnosis.
Diagnosis of encephalitis includes, first of all, a general analysis of blood and urine, as well as X-rays of the lungs and MRI of the brain. In addition, you may need to do a lumbar puncture (i.e. fencecerebrospinal fluid for analysis).
How can these tests help detect encephalitis? The diagnosis of this disease is as follows:
- A blood test will detect special antibodies that will help recognize diseases (for example, white blood cells may be elevated or ESR accelerated).
- MRI or CT will allow you to see the affected brain lesions or cerebral hemorrhage.
- Puncture, or CSF analysis, will reveal an increased amount of sugar, protein and lymphocytes with bloody impurities.
Also, in some cases, a virological analysis of swabs from the nasopharynx may be prescribed, which will help determine the level of specific antibodies. If other diagnostic methods are ineffective, a brain biopsy (that is, taking samples of brain tissue) is possible. Sometimes an actual diagnostic method can be an electroencephalogram, which can record changes in the electrical activity of the brain.
The process of treating a disease
Since the consequences of encephalitis are very dangerous, it is necessary to start treating it as soon as possible.
How is the treatment of this disease proceeding? Of course, the appointment of a particular drug depends on the form and type of the disease. However, the patient will be required to be hospitalized. This should not be abandoned - the best, high-quality and fastest treatment can only be provided in a hospital.
Therapy of encephalitis is carried out in a complex and in several directions:
- Decrease in temperaturebody. For this, children will need funds that contain Ibuprofen or Paracetamol.
- Antibacterial therapy. Antibiotics will help here. With tick-borne encephalitis - "Benzylpenicillin" and "Doxycycline", with mixed - "Levomycetin" and "Cefotaxime" and so on.
- Restoration 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. Immunoglobulin against encephalitis is prescribed to recognize and neutralize the causative agent of the disease. Immunoglobulin preparations are available in many pharmacies in our country. They are derived from human plasma and are a globular protein. 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 - "Prozerin".
Of course, accurate and detailed treatment will be prescribed only in a hospital. Therefore, it is vital to carefully follow all the doctor's instructions.
Preventive measures
How can you avoid contracting encephalitis?
The first thing you can do to protect yourself and your child is to carry out timely vaccination. Vaccination against encephalitis (tick-borne) occurs during routine or emergency immunization. The vaccine allows the body to produce antibodies tofight 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 He alth for vaccinating children of preschool and school age against measles, chickenpox and rubella. Therefore, you should not refuse to immunize your child.
Another important way of prevention is to isolate a patient with encephalitis from he althy people, especially children. The room must be in the process of constant ventilation, and the personal belongings of the infected person must 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 clothing that is as close as possible, tightly fitting to the body, preferably in a light, solid color. During and after visiting the risk area, you should carefully examine yourself and your child (especially the hairline), as well as pets. Arriving home, things must be thoroughly shaken out and aired.
If a tick was found, you should definitely contact a medical institution and, if possible, do not try to pull the insect out yourself.
Good he alth to you!
