The consequences of neuroinfection of the head. Diagnosis of central nervous system infections in the clinic

In most cases, the registration of such diseases occurs in the warm season. In this case, neuroinfections in children are most often found. The source of infection is sick people or virus carriers. The main transmission route is airborne.

Most often affecting the nervous system, three clinical syndromes characterize:

1. Intoxication syndrome . General weakness is observed, body temperature rises.
2. Cerebrospinal syndrome . Cell-protein dissociation is observed, which represents an increase in the number of cells and protein in however, much more cells than protein.
3. Cerebrospinal fluid syndrome . There is an increase in headache in a supine position, which manifests itself more in the morning. There is weakness, impaired consciousness, as well as an increase in the frequency of respiration and heart contractions, which appears against the background of a decrease in systolic blood pressure.

Symptoms of Neuroinfection

Symptoms of these neuroinfections include flaccid paresis, which are temporary immobilization. In this case, most often, foot damage occurs, which leads to a change in the gait of the child. With pressure on the leg, painful sensations along the trunks of large nerves are noted.

Usually the disease is characterized by a mild course. However, in some cases it is complicated by the occurrence of paralysis. The causative agents of acute viral infections are mumps, adenoviruses, enteroviruses and herpes simplex viruses.

Neuroinfection Treatment

Treatment of neuroinfection is carried out depending on the pathogen. Therapy of microbial infections involves the use of antibiotics with a wide spectrum of action. Such treatment is carried out until the pathogen is identified, after which the treatment of neuroinfection is carried out with specific antibiotics. Viral infections are treated with antiviral agents.

As a pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy, infusion treatment of neuroinfection is used, as well as diuretics, neuroprotectors, vitamins and drugs that improve cerebral circulation. A patient with acute viral neuroinfection is prescribed peace and therapeutic exercises. Also, treatment of neuroinfection involves taking medications that improve the general condition of the patient.

The consequences of neuroinfection

The gross structural brain lesions observed during these are the main consequences of neuroinfection. They represent malformations. Retrospective diagnosis of the consequences of the postnatal period is difficult.

The connection between developmental disorders and neuroinfection can be argued only if there is anamnesis that confirms, etc. Do not forget that neurological disorders that arose after a disease accompanied by fever do not in all cases speak of neuroinfection.

Retrospective identification of the disease can be carried out in the course of a serological study. It represents the detection in the blood of a child of specific antibodies with a high titer. The study is effective only in the case of a recent disease.

Infectious lesions of the nervous system is one of the most common forms of neurological pathology, which accounts for at least 42% of all diseases in this area.

The prognosis in most cases is disappointing.

Neuroinfection of the brain is classified depending on the localization of the pathological process, based on which, they distinguish:

encephalitis  (inflammation of the brain tissue due to infection); myelitis  (inflammatory process of the spinal cord caused by pathogens); arachnoiditis  (infectious inflammation affects the arachnoid) meningitis  (infectious inflammation extends to the lining of the brain).

In addition to the listed types of neuroinfection, combined pathologies develop, for example, encephalomyelitis, meningoencephalitis.

Combined forms of a nervous system infection are much more difficult to diagnose, despite the fact that in recent years the possibilities for diagnosing neuroinfections have improved significantly.

Depending on the duration of the pathogenic process, there are acute (meningitis, encephalitis), subacute and chronic (arachnoiditis, arachnoencephalitis) infections of the central nervous system.

The main route of transmission is airborne: infection most often occurs through contact with a virus carrier, a sick person, during coughing or sneezing. An infection is transmitted, including through a kiss, if saliva gets on the mucous membrane of healthy people.

The predisposing factor is the presence of erosion on the gums or their inflammation, as well as microscopic injuries of the oral mucosa of the oral cavity - if these circumstances are relevant, it will be easier for the pathogen to penetrate the body and begin to circulate in it, developing an infection.

The hematogenous route of infection is no less common. The pathological process goes to the brain and spinal cord in the case when the body has a focus of chronic infection, including damage to the vessels supplying these important centers. Such predisposing pathologies are otitis media, brain abscess, thrombosis of the sinuses of the brain.

Neuroinfection develops, including due to lymphogenous transmission, when latent complications of the past craniocerebral and spinal injuries are present in the patient's body. Especially if it is burdened by liquorrhea.

The infection is not transmitted by contact-household means, therefore, if you use personal means and things of the virus carrier, the infection will not occur. Seasonality of the pathology - hot summer - this condition is most favorable for the spread of infection, therefore, settlements with an arid, sultry climate are more susceptible to neuroinfection.

Summarizing, it should be noted that an infection affecting the nervous system can be caused by both a viral, bacterial, and fungal etiology.

Speaking a diagnosis, given the origin of the pathogen, the penetration of which into the body gave rise to infection. Therefore, specify the "bacterial", "viral", "fungal" (meningitis, encephalitis, etc.)

Causes of brain neuroinfection are:

traumatic brain injuries  (especially, accompanied by prolonged compression); hypothermia  (stay in low temperature air without a hat); if during surgery on the brain or spinal cord, used medical instruments or supplies of poor quality sterilization; if surgical or therapeutic intervention was complicated by a violation of the integrity of the doctor’s gloves  or carried out without their use; past viral diseases  (more often - flu).

Neuroinfection often occurs as a nosocomial disease and may be the result of a visit to the dentist who used insufficiently disinfected tools during work.

Predisposing factors include:

low immunity (especially if the patient has HIV, tuberculosis, syphilis or other diseases that undermine the protective properties of the body); the presence of foci of purulent infection  (tonsillitis, otitis media), their latent course or rapid transition from the acute stage to the chronic form; ignoring follow-up after illnessas well as cranio - or spinal injuries.

In neurosurgical and neurological practice, the following types of infections of the nervous system are found.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes of the brain and / or spinal cord. Infection occurs hematogenous, lymphogenous or airborne. drip.

Pathogens - viruses, bacteria, fungi; predisposing factors are the presence of (including hidden) purulent or inflammatory chronic processes in the sinuses of the nasopharynx or auditory canal, as well as hypothermia.

The symptoms of meningitis are quite specific: by visualizing them, you can quickly diagnose this type of neuroinfection by proceeding with its treatment.

The most pronounced manifestations:

stiff neck  (the patient cannot tilt his head forward); intense headache, which is always accompanied by vomiting  (this symptom raises the doubts of experts regarding whether the patient has meningitis or concussion - the anamnesis is the determining factor); high body temperature.

Treatment involves bed rest and antibiotic therapy with broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs. The outlook is favorable.

Arachnoiditis is an inflammatory process, the localization of which is in the arachnoid membrane of the brain. The development of arachnoiditis is caused by head injuries, the presence of rheumatism, timely untreated ENT infection.

Symptoms of this type of neuroinfection are:

severe, persistent headache, making it impossible to perform even basic actions; visual impairment; weakness; nausea, the attack of which ends with vomiting; increase in body temperature; possible development of nosebleeds due to cerebrovascular accident; insomnia; in severe cases - impaired consciousness or its absence.

The prognosis for the patient is favorable only if the diagnosis is timely established and treatment is performed. Therapy of this disease is aimed at eliminating the inflammatory process, stabilizing cerebral circulation and general strengthening of the patient's body.

Encephalitis - inflammation of brain tissue is a result of tick-borne damage, as well as the penetration and exposure of bacteria and viruses. If the patient neglects to seek medical help, the prognosis is unfavorable and even lethal. Symptoms of this type of neuroinfection are pronounced:

headache worse when lying down, stable (poorly and briefly relieved by analgesics); there is an increase in body temperature; weakness and a feeling of weakness are growing, as manifestations of general intoxication of the body.

Oculomotor disorders are part of the symptom complex characteristic of this type of neuroinfection: the patient develops ptosis (drooping eyelids), double vision in the eyes, and general visual impairment.

Dyspepsia is manifested by nausea, which most often occurs after movement by transport; vomiting occurs.

Hospitalization involves further therapy with antibiotics, hormonal drugs and restorative agents.

The most informative type of study is an MRI, CT scan, as well as an encephalogram. The laboratory part of the diagnosis involves the study of blood and urine.

An analysis of cerebrospinal fluid is also performed - cerebrospinal fluid, in which an elevated level of protein is determined. Each of these diagnostic procedures allows you to visualize the state of the brain and spinal cord, to determine the localization of the pathogenic process, the degree of infection and involvement of tissues in the inflammatory process.

The treatment of neuroinfection is as follows:

Having diagnosed the patient is hospitalized. Vein catheterization performed  (a permanent intravenous catheter is installed). Prescribed antibiotic therapy. The antimicrobial drug is chosen by the doctor, taking into account which pathogen provoked the development of neuroinfection: only by adhering to this, you can count on the success of treatment. Antibiotics are administered intravenously or by drip (via infusion), since this ensures that the drug substance instantly enters the blood, as opposed to performing intramuscular injections. Among the commonly used drugs are Cefepim, Medaxone, Ceftazidime. The patient is prescribed hormonal drugs  - basically, prednisolone and dexamethasone, the dosage of which is determined by the severity of the patient and the form of pathology. If neuroinfection is combined, then the dosage of the hormonal substance should be higher than with a separate infectious disease of the nervous system. Patient immunity support  the introduction of vitamin complexes. Blood pressure correction  carried out through the introduction of sulfate magnesia. For to reduce the degree of cerebral edema, the patient is injected with diuretics: Furosemide, Lasix. Throughout the patient’s stay in the hospital, monitoring of vital signs  his body. Maintaining them at a normal level provides continuous infusion therapy of the patient with saline and glucose. Spend diuresis control  the patient. In order to prevent exhaustion, it is performed parenteral nutrition of the patient; carry out hygienic care.

The most serious consequences of neuroinfection include death; disability; dementia. These consequences are a good reason not to postpone seeking medical help, to undergo an examination and to fulfill all the doctor's prescriptions.

It is possible to prevent the development of neuroinfection: for this, it is necessary to treat ENT and dental pathologies in a timely manner, avoid contact with infected people, put on headgear at low air temperature and strengthen immunity.

Neuroinfection - what is it? What are the reasons for the development of such diseases, effective treatment options? Such questions are faced by people who first heard from a doctor that they develop neuroinfection.

In medical guides, this disease is treated as infectious, caused by fungi, viruses or bacteria, which affects the nervous system, while it has a severe course with a high mortality rate.

Neuroinfection includes a fairly large list of diseases, many of which are harmful to the brain. All of them can have an acute form of the course or turn into a chronic one and proceed quite sluggishly. As medical practice shows, these diseases can go away in an acute form once and no longer bother the patient or have frequent and vivid relapses until the end of his days.

Among all diseases of this group, acute forms include:

Encephalitis - the substance of the brain becomes inflamed. The most common cause is tick-borne encephalitis virus. Meningitis - the lining of the brain becomes inflamed. Here, both the brain and the spinal cord can be affected. Tetanus. Rabies. Myelitis - the spinal cord becomes inflamed due to the infection running in it. Arachnoiditis - the arachnoid membrane of the brain becomes inflamed.

The chronic forms include:

neurosyphilis; neuro AIDS; leprosy; damage to the nervous system by tuberculosis; neurobrucellosis; brucellosis.

Regardless of the type and location of the lesion, neuroinfection of the brain and spinal cord is manifested by three striking symptoms:

General intoxication of the body. The patient’s body temperature rises sharply, very often to critical levels, general weakness appears in the body, and disability decreases. Cerebrospinal fluid syndrome. In the cells of cerebrospinal fluid significantly increases the amount of protein and cells that prevail over proteins. Symptoms of cerebrospinal fluid hypertension. Patients indicate that in the supine position their headache is significantly increased, especially in the morning, confusion or distraction may occur, there are cases of tachycardia and low blood pressure.

Neuroinfections in children are manifested quite often, while they have a severe degree of course.  Due to the fact that the baby’s immune system is not yet fully formed, the lesion often occurs through a hemophilic bacillus. Based on medical studies, it can be concluded that such lesions occur in children who have a history of congenital malformations of the nervous system: cerebral palsy, hypoxia during childbirth.

In order for the treatment to be effective and correct, you must undergo the following examinations:

Neurologist examination. Here the doctor will conduct research on all body reflexes: coordination of movements, sensitivity, which will help to immediately distinguish neuroinfectious diseases from other neurological ones. Laboratory blood tests. At this stage, it is extremely important to determine the causative agent of the disease and to study the capabilities of the immune system to resist it. Diagnostic studies of the immune system. In the case when the infection penetrates through the bite of a mosquito or tick, it is necessary to correctly assess the ability to resist the disease. MRI The study will identify the lesions of the brain or spinal cord, it is possible to recognize tumor diseases that give similar symptoms. Electroneuromyography. It is carried out to recognize infection of the peripheral nerves or spinal cord.

The treatment of the disease that caused the virus, bacteria or fungi will depend on the location of the disease and the type of infection itself. The main objectives of drug therapy will be:

the resumption of proper functioning of the nervous system of the whole organism. restoration of the body's immune system; cessation of infection; elimination of the causative agent of infection; Viral encephalitis.

When diagnosing, the patient's viral encephalitis is immediately placed in intensive care, as careful monitoring of the respiratory function in the body and blood circulation processes is necessary. In the first few days, antiviral and anticonvulsant drugs are administered. Minimize water intake for patients.

Meningitis.

This disease requires urgent medical attention. Treatment takes place in a hospital, as serious complications are always likely, and a fatal outcome can occur.

As a treatment, broad-spectrum antibiotics and antibacterial drugs are used that remove the specific virus that caused the development of the disease. The basis for prescribing medication will also be age and blood pressure indicators.

Fungal neuroinfection.

In this form, the disease is extremely difficult to diagnose immediately. Causes of brain damage can be fungi of the genus Candida or cryptococcus, which enter the body through the mucous membranes of the nose, throat or ears. Most affected are people who have a co-diagnosis of AIDS. In such a group of people, fungi are activated against the background of a sharp decrease in the body's immune defense and affect the parts of the brain.

Dangerous in this type of disease is that symptomatic manifestations do not always immediately make themselves felt, but at the same time, the development of the disease entails a danger to human life. Development can be suspected by regular headaches and increased drowsiness.

To date, fungal meningitis is treatable, but only in 50% of patients. Previously, before the invention of the drug Amphotericin B, it was 100% death. Doctors also recommend the use of the drug Fluconazole and antibiotic therapy. All medical measures are carried out only in a hospital, under the strict supervision of a doctor. Daily blood tests, which show the further development of inflammatory processes, are extremely important.

This type of neuroinfection is considered one of the most severe and dangerous for humans. With damage to the spinal cord, serious complications almost always remain: nerve cells die, which leads to paralysis, impaired bowel and bladder functions.

As a treatment, drugs of the glucocorticosteroid group and broad-spectrum antibiotics will be used. It is very important to undergo timely treatment in a hospital in order to immediately stop the development of concomitant diseases that will be activated against the background of myelitis.

Since in almost all cases of myelitis, paralysis occurs, it is extremely important to organize proper care for the patient and his skin, to use means that prevent the appearance of pressure sores.

The most terrible and serious consequences are those that are transferred in utero. Here there will be disturbances in the formation of organs, the nervous system, malformations.

After an illness, an adult has a headache and constant pain in the back, which intensifies when the weather changes. Many doctors also state that in such patients, after recovery, memory worsens, memory problems are noted, hearing and vision may be impaired. There are isolated cases when a neuroinfectious disease leads to complete disability, a person loses sight or hearing.

Neuroinfection is a group of serious diseases that pose a danger to human life. Only attention to your body and a quick visit to a doctor can minimize the development of complications or the likelihood of a fatal outcome.

You are tormented by episodic or regular headache attacks  Presses his head and eyes, or “hits with a sledgehammer” on the back of his head or knocks at his temples. sick and dizzy?  It all starts enrage, work becomes impossible!  Do you spill your irritability on relatives and colleagues?

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meningitis, encephalitis, their mixed forms, which differ in manifestations, diagnostic capabilities.

The issue of brain infection in children is especially relevant, since at this age the body is extremely sensitive to various pathogens and can quickly develop brain neuroinfection - serious infectious diseases with damage to the central nervous system and the development of severe symptoms. At the same time, several varieties of such diseases are distinguished: coma, other life-threatening conditions.

The origin of any neuroinfection is the infection of a person, his central nervous system by various microorganisms: bacteria, viruses or fungi. In this case, an infectious process develops, characterized by the development of inflammation and cell damage. In addition, the following can lead to infection:

traumatic brain injury, in particular with the phenomenon of prolonged compression of brain structures; prolonged hypothermia; the use of non-sterile instruments during surgical procedures on the head; viral infection that can serve as a factor in weakening immunity.

As a result of the action of such factors, infection of the central nervous system by microorganisms may occur. In this case, there are three main types of central nervous system damage:

Meningitis - characterized by the development of the inflammatory process in the meninges. Encephalitis - inflammation and infection associated with direct damage to brain tissue. Mixed form - elements of meningitis and encephalitis are combined.

Different forms of the disease may differ in their main manifestations, which can be used in the diagnosis of brain neuroinfection and determination of treatment tactics.

Symptoms of brain infections have both common features and distinctive features. With meningitis, cerebral manifestations come to the fore, such as:

headache, sometimes accompanied by vomiting; a significant increase in the patient’s body temperature to 39–40 ° C; stiff back muscles of the neck; phenomena of general intoxication with muscle pain, weakness and increased fatigue.

With encephalitis, there are practically no separate neurological symptoms, which makes it possible to distinguish it from meningitis. In the latter case, the symptoms of neuroinfection of the brain are mainly focal in nature:

headaches of varying intensity; impaired movement or sensitivity in the limbs; violation of eye movements, decreased visual acuity or loss of its fields; various disturbances of gait, coordination of movements; cognitive impairment (decreased memory, ability to think); temperature increase up to 38–39 оС.

In this case, the manifestations of meningitis are characterized by individual neurological defects associated with direct damage as a result of inflammation of specific brain departments.

The most important place in the diagnosis of neuroinfections is the external examination of the patient with the determination of his neurological status. Already at this stage, the attending physician may suspect the form of the lesion, determine the localization of the pathological process.

However, to clarify the diagnosis and determine the location of the lesion, laboratory and instrumental methods are used:

Neuroimaging methods: computed and magnetic resonance imaging, allow us to assess the state of the central nervous system tissue, meninges. Electroencephalography is used to assess the functioning of brain cells and allows you to identify the prevalence and severity of damage to nerve tissue. Electroneuromyography is used to detect the severity of lesions of the conduction nerve pathways in the presence of paresis or paralysis in the patient. Lumbar puncture with subsequent analysis of cerebrospinal fluid allows you to identify the inflammatory process in the central nervous system, to determine its pathogens (viruses or bacteria). Clinical and biochemical blood tests help to identify the inflammatory process in the body.

The correct use of the described methods together with the collection of complaints and the conduct of a neurological examination allows you to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe a rational treatment.

The question of what neuroinfection begins to torment the patient after making such a diagnosis and, as a rule, such a diagnosis does not bode well. As a rule, neuroinfections of the brain are caused by all kinds of microorganisms that affect both the brain itself and the other components of the central or peripheral nervous system, but, first things first ...

Diseases that are part of the group of neuroinfectious diseases and their classification depend on several factors, in particular, depending on the affected area, brain neuroinfection affects:

In addition, the disease is subdivided by the course of time into:

1. Sharp.
2. Subacute.
3. Chronic (sometimes referred to as slow neuroinfection).

Acute types of the disease include:

• encephalitis;
• meningitis;
• tetanus;
• rabies;
• myelitis;
• arachnoiditis.

The chronic types, in turn, include:

• neurosyphilis;
• neuro AIDS;
• leprosy;
• neurobrucellosis;
• brucellosis.

In addition, the disease is divided into:

1. Primary.
2. Secondary

The primary infection is characterized by the onset of the disease due to the defeat of one or another part of the brain by an infectious or viral pathogen from the outside. The emergence of a secondary type of infection is provoked by a disease existing in the patient's body (tuberculosis, syphilis, toxoplasmosis, etc.).

Watch video: Brain for neuroinfection

Symptoms

Viral neuroinfection is a generic name for a number of diseases that affect the central nervous system (CNS) of a person and the characteristic symptoms of neuroinfection are similar to the symptoms of the diseases mentioned above.

The main symptoms of the disease:

• headache (especially in the morning while lying down);
• general weakness;
• temperature;
• impaired consciousness;
• nausea;
• vomiting
• fatigue;
• hallucinations;
• lack of appetite;
• gastrointestinal upset;
• incoherent speech;
• violation of the organs of vision, hearing and smell;
• increase in the number of vascular contractions;
• decrease in the lower mark of blood pressure.

Among other things, the patient may be diagnosed with flaccid paresis of the lower extremities. When pressing on the affected limbs, the patient will feel acute pain.

Types of diseases

So, the most common neuroinfections are meningitis, arachnoiditis and encephalitis.

Meningitis

A disease that affects the spinal cord or brain. Infection occurs by airborne droplets, as well as through blood. The main pathogens are viruses, bacteria and fungi.

There are several types of meningitis

• herpes meningitis (herpesviral neuroinfection);
• purulent meningitis;

Each of the varieties of this disease has special symptoms, but there are also general symptoms, including:

• muscle stiffness;
• heat.

Arachnoiditis

This disease affects exclusively the arachnoid membrane of the brain and develops as a result of past head injuries, the presence of advanced ENT infections.

The following symptoms are characteristic of this ailment:

• nausea;
• heat;
• vomiting
• painful condition;
• headache;
• loss of consciousness;
• visual impairment.

This disease, like meningitis, is treatable, however, the later the diagnosis is made, the worse the consequences can be.

Encephalitis

This disease, as a rule, is transmitted by ticks and is a rather serious ailment. The disease affects the brain tissue and, if not properly treated, causes death.

The main symptom complex includes:

• heat;
• nausea;
• headache;
• disorders characteristic of the organs of vision.

Encephalitis has adverse effects, even after the end of treatment therapy.

At gunpoint a child

Neuroinfection in children should be highlighted in a special category. Due to the fact that babies have less strong immunity, they are most often exposed to dangerous diseases. The most characteristic ailment is herpesvirus neuroinfection and chickenpox meningitis. Other forms of meningitis can also occur in a child, but not as often as the above.

In addition, neuroinfection in children is more difficult to diagnose. This is because the child is simply not able to explain what is bothering him. As a result, the onset of treatment is delayed and, possibly, the appearance of dangerous consequences.

Diagnosis and treatment

It is important to understand that in order to prescribe quality treatment, it is necessary to conduct timely diagnosis of the disease and determine its true component.

It looks like an MRI machine

Any neuroinfection is determined by a comprehensive diagnosis, including:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
• Computed tomography (CT);
• Encephalogram of the head (EEG).

Among other things, the doctor appoints the patient to take tests:

• blood
• urine
• cerebrospinal fluid.

Important: often 40% of the information comes from cerebrospinal fluid analysis

Treatment

Treatment is carried out strictly in a hospital and lasts at least one week, in most cases more.

What medications are prescribed for the patient?

First of all, antibiotic therapy is carried out. Moreover, the type of antibiotic and dosage are prescribed by the attending physician. As a rule, the drug is administered to the patient intravenously or directly into the spinal cord (with inflammation of the spinal cord).

In addition, the patient is prescribed a course of vitamins, immune-supporting therapy, as well as a complex of hormonal agents.

In addition, in case of complications (cerebral edema, etc.), the patient is injected with drugs that eliminate this or that complication.

So check the blood

Residual effects after an illness can be treated at home, provided that the patient is in a satisfactory general condition.

What after

The consequences of neuroinfections are different. Depending on the time of initiation of treatment and the type of illness. Basically, they belong to such a section of medicine as neurology.

In particular:

• recurrent headaches;
• the sensitivity of some organs to weather changes;
• impaired hearing, smell, or vision;
• problems with remembering.

In rare cases, a person becomes disabled.

So, the longer the delay occurs with an appeal to a specialist, the worse consequences may develop in the end. Do not play with your health and the health of your children, take care of yourself.

  Is a generic name for many infectious diseases of the nervous system. There is a risk of getting sick at any age, but since infections penetrate the body with reduced immunity more easily, children whose immune system has not yet been formed are more likely to suffer.
Neuroinfection in children is a serious disease, since without treatment it can lead to the worst consequences: mental and physical development retardation, dementia, blindness and deafness, paralysis and even death. If a child shows any unhealthy manifestations of a nervous nature, and especially against a background of high temperature, you should immediately contact the clinic.

Signs of Neuroinfection

Diseases caused by neuroinfection are divided into acute, subacute and chronic. The most common conditions are:

• encephalitis, meningitis and myelitis and their forms are the most acute and serious diseases of the brain and spinal cord that require immediate hospitalization;
• sciatica, neuritis;
• secondary neuroinfection (neurosyphilis, neurobrucellosis, tuberculosis, etc.).

Infection with neuroinfection occurs with the bites of insect vectors (for example, an encephalitis tick) or infected animals, the use of milk from animals such as complications after acute respiratory infections or ENT diseases of an infectious nature, with direct contact with infected blood and mucous membranes, from the mother to the baby during childbirth.

Symptoms of neuroinfection have a different degree of manifestation, depending on the severity of the condition:

• the acute form is characterized by: high fever and general signs of intoxication, headaches, photophobia, cramps, confusion, speech disorders, impaired coordination of movements, temporary hearing and vision disturbances (hallucinations, decreased severity, blindness or deafness), loss of consciousness and coma;
• chronic infection is rarely accompanied by fever above 37.2 ° C, but headache, frequent nausea, paresis of limbs, impaired sensation, depressed consciousness, drowsiness and lethargy, tachycardia with lowering blood pressure, and a decrease in labor and social activity are recorded.

It will not be superfluous to emphasize once again that neuroinfection is dangerous in itself, but transferred at an early age, it threatens with severe complications, starting from impaired sensation and motor activity, and ending with mental retardation, disability and death.

Diagnosis of neuroinfection

For this disease, you need to contact a pediatric neurologist who will prescribe the following studies:

• magnetic resonance or computed tomography,
• investigation of evoked potentials,
• puncture of the spinal cord and the study of cerebrospinal fluid for the presence of infection.

If a child is suspected of neuroinfection, it is best to contact a specialized neurological clinic. Aksimed neurology clinic specializes in the examination and treatment of neurological diseases, and neuroinfection accounts for 40% of all cases of diseases of the nervous system. At the Aksimed clinic

• neurologists, infectious disease specialists and diagnosticians with many years of professional experience work
• diagnostics are carried out using the latest methods and the most modern equipment,
• and in the rehabilitation department you will be met by physical therapy instructors who, with the help of special simulators, will help restore freedom of movement.

Treatment of neuroinfection in children

Treatment always depends on the pathogen that caused the disease. After diagnosis, appropriate therapy is prescribed: antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, or antiprotozoal. In addition, symptomatic therapy is carried out: antipyretic drugs, anticonvulsants, sedatives.
One of the main tasks of therapeutic measures is raising immunity. For this, vitamin therapy, hardening procedures and improving the overall physical health of the child are carried out.

In case of serious lesions of the nervous system, a rehabilitation course is required to restore impaired functions: occupational therapists help to re-learn how to dress, eat independently, tie shoelaces, write and perform other daily manipulations, kinesthesiologists restore the ability to move independently and perform major manipulations with limbs, speech therapists help return speech.
Despite the complexity and severity of the disease, the timely detection and adequate treatment of neuroinfection can avoid undesirable consequences, as if there was no disease.

What is neuroinfection?

The concept of "neuroinfection" includes diseases of the central (brain or spinal cord) or peripheral (nerve trunks, plexuses, nerves) nervous system, mainly inflammatory in nature, which were caused by some kind of microbe or virus (sometimes fungi).

Examples of Neuroinfections

This is a fairly large list of diseases. Some of them are acute, others are sluggish, chronically. Acute diseases may occur once in a lifetime, and may become prone to recurrence. The treatment for neuroinfection is different in each case.

Acute neuroinfection:

• meningitis (inflammation of the membrane common to the spinal cord and brain);
• encephalitis is an inflammation of the substance of the brain itself, mainly caused by viruses, for example, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Japanese encephalitis virus;
• rabies;
• tetanus;
• myelitis (inflammation triggered by an infection in the spinal cord).

Chronic neuroinfection

The list is very long. The main diseases:

• neurosyphilis;
• brucellosis;
• neuro AIDS;
• neurobrucellosis;
• leprosy (leprosy);
• tuberculous damage to the nervous system.

Features of the course of neuroinfection

Neuroinfections in children often have an acute course of varying severity. There is also some specificity associated with the greater immaturity of the immune system of babies. For example, meningococcal and hemophilic bacillus damage of the nervous system is more common in children than in adults. In the latter, such microbes mostly do not reach the brain, causing meningococcal nasopharyngitis (runny nose and sore throat) or hemophilic pneumonia. In practice, it has been observed that children who have congenital “malfunctions” in the functioning of the nervous system are more prone to neuroinfection: hypoxia during childbirth, cerebral palsy, and cytomegalovirus damage to the brain during pregnancy.

It starts upon receipt of at least preliminary examination results. So, if there is a suspicion of meningitis or encephalitis, a lumbar puncture is mandatory. According to this analysis, the doctor is looking for purulent inflammation or serous. Based on this, treatment begins: with purulent inflammation, antibiotics are mandatory, with serous - antiviral agents. If neuroinfection arose as a secondary lesion (that is, pneumonia was first, and then meningitis occurred), then antibiotics are prescribed. In the clinical picture of diseases such as poliomyelitis, tetanus, brucellosis, blood, urine, feces are first taken for bacteriological and serological (for viruses) studies, and only then, after a short period of time, treatment with antibiotics and antiviral agents, anti-tetanus serum begins.

In addition to antimicrobials, treatment of neuroinfection includes (according to indications):

• hormonal drugs (for example, with meningococcal infection, the medications Prednisolone, Dexamethasone are life-saving);
• anti-inflammatory drugs: "Ibuprofen", "Diclofenac";
• sedative therapy;
• oxygen therapy;
• drugs that improve blood rheology;
• other medicines (depending on the situation).

Treatment of neuroinfection in its severe course

It includes the transfer of the patient to artificial lung ventilation (if there is impaired consciousness, prolonged cramps), prolonged maintenance of anesthesia, the introduction of drugs that maintain blood pressure at a normal level, the introduction of drugs that thin the blood.

Effects

The consequences of neuroinfection may be different. The most common occurrence is a headache (or back pain - with inflammation of the spinal cord), which occurs "in the weather." Also often there is a violation of memorization, impaired hearing or vision, until the complete loss of these feelings. Due to neuroinfection, a person can become disabled, so timely treatment and adequate treatment are important.