Encephalitis develops after a tick bite. What to do with symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis in humans

Since the tick saliva penetrates into the open wound, an allergic reaction and a primary inflammatory process develop on the epithelium. The bite is painless to the touch. The only thing that a person can note is a red "button" with a small microtrauma in the middle.

First symptoms

• Deterioration of health;
• Drowsiness and lethargy;
• Increase in body temperature up to 38 degrees;
• Low pressure;
• Nausea and vomiting;
• Tachycardia - increased heart rate;
• Muscle and joint pain;
• Pain in the eyes during the daytime;
• Chills;
• Headache.

The defeat of the nervous system as a result of intoxication from a tick bite begins with the appearance of hallucinations, clouding of consciousness, fainting, a severe attack of headache against the background of vomiting and nausea.

Temperature increase

How does a fever manifest in the body after a tick infection?

• With encephalitis, the patient develops a fever of the so-called recurrent type. The temperature rises rapidly for 2 days after the bite and does not subside - it stays at the same rate. A repeated temperature jump is possible after the relief of the symptoms of the disease, namely on the 10th day.
• Lyme disease is characterized by hyperthermia combined with migraines and severe chills.
• With monocytic ehrlichiosis, an increase in body temperature is not diagnosed in a patient in the first 7 days. But, on the 8th day, a severe fever occurs, which lasts 20 days.

Hyperthermia and chills are characteristic of almost all infectious processes, the cause of which is a tick bite.

Manifestations of encephalitis on the 7th day

Exactly at 7 bitches after infection, the intoxication of the whole body of the patient begins. First of all, the infectious process affects the central nervous system. A person is worried about severe headaches, paralysis develops, and epilepsy attacks periodically occur.

Toxins affect not only the nerve endings, but also the joints - thus, arthritis of the extremities develops. The cardiovascular system receives a blow: the patient complains of tachycardia against the background of low blood pressure, weakness, lethargy, attacks of heart pain.

The infectious process spreads to the kidneys and liver. A human bite with a tick ends with nephritis, digestive problems, a decrease in body weight to critical levels, and the withering of the body as a whole.

Allergy Signs

• Pain;
• Redness of the wound;
• Drowsiness and weakness;
• Mild headache;
• Indigestion (vomiting, diarrhea, nausea);
• Light dizziness;
• Itching and burning.

All of the above can be stopped with standard antihistamines: Zodak, Cetrin, Letizen and their analogues.

But, even if there was no reaction to the insect, it is necessary to seek medical help. Why? Because after 12 hours, an individual allergic reaction may appear with characteristic symptoms in the form of: hallucinations, Quincke's edema, a critical decrease in pressure, fainting.

At home, you will not be able to stop anaphylactic shock or Quincke's edema. This can be done only in resuscitation conditions through the introduction of adrenaline. In the absence of emergency medical care, the risk of death increases.

Signs of tick-borne encephalitis in children

The severity of tick-borne encephalitis symptoms in children is much stronger than in adults. This can be explained by the weakness of the child's immature organism, which is more difficult to perceive the attack of toxins. The first painful symptoms appear within a few hours after the bite and they appear as:

• Redness of the bite site;
• Numbness of the limbs;
• Seizures;
• Limb tremor;
• Loss of consciousness;
• Hallucinations;
• Heartache;
• Fear of bright light;
• Temperature rise up to 40 degrees;
• Fever lasting up to 10 days.

The child's condition after being hit by a tick is assessed as critical. In no case should you provide medical assistance at home. It is necessary to understand that at any time the affected baby will need resuscitation therapy.

In the acute form of tick-borne encephalitis in children, it manifests itself in this way:

• Incessant nausea and vomiting;
• Loss of consciousness for a few minutes;
• Blue limbs;
• Hyperemia;
• Lack of appetite;
• Paralysis;
• Severe pain throughout the body;
• Clouding of consciousness against the background of hearing loss is a condition close to a coma.

Manifestations at different stages of the disease

Despite the acute course of tick-borne encephalitis as a separate disease, at each stage a person is disturbed by certain symptoms. In particular, the febrile form of the disease proceeds in the body more easily than all others and is characterized by complete recovery.

From the moment of the bite and further - within 5 days, the patient is worried about the fever. The main signs of hyperthermia are: nausea and vomiting, muscle and headache, weakness, lethargy, fatigue. There are no neurological symptoms. The defeat of the nerve endings and the central nervous system begins in the absence of medical assistance to the victim.

With the meningoencephalitis form of encephalitis, the patient's condition is characterized by loss of consciousness, seizures of epilepsy, respiratory failure, up to its stopping, paresis of the muscles of the tongue. The patient has an increased risk of gastric bleeding. The general condition of a person is extremely difficult.

Signs of polio

The main manifestations of the poliomyelitis form of encephalitis are characterized by:

• Spinal cord injury;
• Numbness of the limbs;
• Violation of the musculoskeletal system;
• Abnormal throwing of the head during an attack;
• Severe pain when moving the limbs;
• Muscle damage, up to their atrophy on the 21st day after the bite.

With incorrect or untimely medical care, the patient's condition turns into a polyradiculoneuritic form of encephalitis. The patient develops spinal paralysis, all muscles and joints are affected, anorexia develops, and the functioning of vital organs decreases. Against the background of a sharp deterioration in the patient's well-being, the risk of death increases. The condition is assessed as critical.

Borreliosis symptoms

Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is an infectious disease transmitted from tick to human. A large seal is formed, gradually expanding to 20 cm in diameter. In severe critical cases, erythema reaches 60 cm. The patient complains of burning sensation, unbearable itching, pain at the site of injury.

After a few days, the microtrauma begins to turn blue, swell, and crust over. Common signs of borelliosis are characterized as:

• Body aches;
• Cerebral edema;
• Temperature jump up to 38 degrees;
• Runny nose, sore throat;
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, groin;
• Indigestion in the form of nausea and incessant vomiting;
• Weakness, fatigue;
• Anorexia, loss of appetite;
• Heartache.

The disease is dangerous because in the first few days, patients do not perceive the symptoms of intoxication as something serious. Unpleasant symptoms are attributed to a common indigestion, a cold, or overwork. After a few weeks, the disease, the infectious process becomes latent. But, during this time, the internal organs and vital systems are seriously affected.

It is necessary to understand that such a sign of infection as an increase in temperature does not appear immediately, but after 2-3 days. With ehrlichiosis, hyperthermia begins on the 14th day, and with tularemia on the 21st day. After a tick bite, be sure to monitor your well-being: any signs of ill health should force a person to seek medical help.

In conclusion, we remind you that tick-borne encephalitis is a dangerous infectious disease that affects the central nervous system and attacks the patient's brain. But, before infecting the brain, the virus infects the internal organs (liver, heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract), as well as the musculoskeletal system.

If symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis are detected, the patient should be taken to the infectious diseases department of a medical facility. Therapy begins with bed rest, injections of gamma globulin, vitamins, anti-inflammatory drugs.

Lack of timely treatment leads to disruption of the spinal cord and brain. The consequences of the disease are such that ignoring its symptoms is fatal. Take care of your health!

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Tick-borne encephalitis is a specific viral disease that provokes inflammation of the brain, as well as damage to the nervous system (peripheral and central).

Symptoms of encephalitis after a tick bite appear only if the insect was a carrier of the virus. In nature, it is carried by two types: European and taiga. Their main habitats are the territories of Siberia, the Urals and the Far East. Peak - late spring, last days of summer and early autumn. In these months, the incidence, respectively, also increases sharply.

Varieties

Experts distinguish several types of the disease. after a tick bite, depending on this, they can differ from each other and manifest themselves with different strengths.

• Far Eastern encephalitis. It is considered the most dangerous type of the disease, it is very difficult. The percentage of deaths reaches 30-40%.

• European encephalitis. It is transferred quite easily (with timely treatment). The mortality rate is relatively low.

• Siberian encephalitis.

Symptoms

So, let's move on to the most important thing. When the human body gets into his saliva, which contains the virus. It needs some time for reproduction in tissues, penetration into the blood and lymph nodes. The first symptoms of encephalitis after a tick bite are very similar to the flu: the temperature rises, chills occur, and body aches. This condition lasts on average about 2 days. Further symptoms will depend on the form of the disease: febrile, meningeal, polio, or encephalitic.

Now you know what a threat the person carrying may pose. Symptoms that appear in the early stages (fever and general malaise) should not be attributed to the common cold. If you know that you were in a place where an insect could bite you, it is better to immediately go to the doctor's office. Remember that the female tick can drink blood until it is completely full (up to several days). Moreover, the person does not feel anything at the same time - the bite is absolutely painless.

Prophylaxis

When camping with family or friends, be sure to ask your acquaintances to check you out from time to time, as most insect repellents do not work on ticks. It is advisable to wear light clothing that covers your arms, legs and other parts of your body so that there are as few exposed areas as possible. The simplest precautions can help you and your loved ones prevent tick-borne encephalitis.

Symptoms in children and adults who are confronted with this disease, even with the mildest forms of the disease, are quite difficult to tolerate. Therefore, it is better to prevent a bite than to deal with its consequences later.

The most common are the first 2 diseases (tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis), the rest are diagnosed much less frequently. Some ticks can be carriers of several infections at once, and, as a result, infect a person with several diseases at once.

How a tick bites

Females of the tick can remain on the skin from several hours to a week, and males are able to suck for a short time, making small bites. Therefore, for example, if a person saw on his skin a crawling mite, not adhering, it is highly likely that the mite nevertheless inflicted a bite.

Where and when are you most likely to get a tick bite?

People living in disease-endemic areas, as well as those who visit these areas during a special period, from May to mid-June and from late August to late September, are most at risk of contracting a serious illness from a tick bite.

But the danger of being attacked by ticks remains throughout the warm season when visiting almost any forest areas, parks and other areas where there is grass and shady shelters. You can even get a tick bite in your country house or in the adjoining territory of your private house, if the grass has not been mown there.

Maximum number of infected tick bites
registered annually in Siberia, the Urals and the Volga region. However, a considerable number of those bitten annually seek medical help in almost all regions of Russia, including the Crimea and the Caucasus.

What parts of the body does the tick mainly bite on?

Ticks are localized in the grass, mainly at a height of 30 cm, and cling to the legs of those who pass by. Most often, they accumulate on the grass along the paths, smelling people passing here. Sometimes they climb shrubs and lower branches of trees.

Once on the human body, the tick begins to look for places with thin skin, which is easier to bite through, so most often it sticks to the area:

• groin,
• abdomen and lower back,
• armpits,
• breasts,
• ears and neck,
• scalp.

If you suspect a tick bite and for prevention purposes, it is these places that should be most carefully examined after visiting the forest and park.

What does a tick bite look like?

Signs of a tick bite in humans are sometimes limited to only a small reddish spot and swelling in the area of ​​the wound, and after a few days the skin takes on a normal appearance. Under the influence of saliva and microtrauma, which the mite inflicts with the oral apparatus, a slight inflammation and local allergic reaction occurs on the skin. There is no pain, but in some cases mild itching may be present.

Seeing a doctor is necessary in any case, even if there are no negative reactions from the body. The course of the first stages of dangerous diseases sometimes runs latently, in addition, some diseases have a long incubation period. Only a blood test will confirm the absence of the disease.

Signs of an allergic reaction to a tick bite

Allergy occurs in response to tick saliva getting into the wound. The individual reaction of the body depends on the state of health in general. The consequences of tick bites in allergy sufferers, children, the elderly and people with weakened immunity are more severe. A moderate allergic reaction can be relieved with antihistamines.

Common signs of allergies:

• weakness;
• drowsiness;
• joint aches;
• headache;
• nausea;
• dizziness,
• temperature increase;
• itching and rash on the bite and other areas of the body.

With a strong individual allergic reaction, anaphylactic shock may occur, which is preceded by:

• difficulty breathing;
• hallucinations;
• Quincke's edema (rapid and massive swelling of the face, throat, or limbs);
• loss of consciousness.

Anaphylactic shock can be treated with prednisone and epinephrine. If the symptoms after a tick bite indicate a severe allergic reaction, an urgent call for an ambulance is necessary, otherwise it may be fatal.

Signs of developing tick-borne encephalitis

The incubation period for tick-borne encephalitis can last from 4 to 14 days. During this period, the infected person does not have any external health problems. Then the temperature rises sharply to 38-39 ° C, the patient has a fever, appetite disappears, pain in the muscles and eyes, nausea or vomiting, severe headache appears.

Then comes remission, during which the patient feels some relief. This is the second phase of the disease, during which the nervous system is affected. Subsequently, meningitis, encephalitis, and paralysis may develop. If untreated, death is likely.

The problem is that the signs of the disease in the initial stage are often confused with influenza and acute respiratory infections, so they do not go to the doctor, but self-medicate. If a high temperature appears after an identified or suspected tick bite, time should not be wasted - a blood test and hospital treatment are required.

Borreliosis symptoms

If bitten by a borreliosis carrier tick, the site of the bite takes on the form of a specific erythema, which gradually increases to 10-20 cm, and sometimes up to 60 cm in diameter. The erythema spot can be round, oval, or irregular. The victim may experience burning, itching and pain at the site of the bite, but more often the first signs are limited to erythema alone.

After some time, a rich red border forms along the contour of the spot, while the border itself looks a little swollen. In the center, the erythema becomes pale white or cyanotic. After a few days, a crust and scar forms in the area of ​​the bite, which disappear without a trace after about 2 weeks.

The incubation period before the first symptoms appear is from several days to 2 weeks. Then comes the first stage of the disease, which lasts from 3 to 30 days. During this period, the patient experiences muscle aches, headache, weakness, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose, stiff neck muscles, nausea. Then, for a while, the disease can turn into a latent form for up to several months, during which the heart and joints are affected.

Unfortunately, erythema is often mistaken for a local allergic reaction, with little regard for it. And malaise during the first stage of the disease is attributed to a cold or overwork at work. The disease flows into a latent form, and openly declares itself after a few months, when serious harm has already been done to the body.

Signs of developing other diseases

An increase in temperature to 38 ° C and above may indicate the onset of the development of any of the tick-borne infections. It is important to remember that a symptom such as a fever does not occur immediately after a bite. The incubation period for some diseases can last up to 14 days (ehrlichiosis, hemorrhagic fever), or up to 21 days (tularemia).

Against the background of a high temperature, the following symptoms can also indicate the onset of the disease:

• heart palpitations and pressure surges;
• sore throat, flattened tongue and runny nose;
• anorexia, nausea and vomiting;
• swollen lymph nodes and a rash on the face (typhus);
• nosebleeds, abdominal pain, diarrhea (tularimia);
• chills, sweating, blurred consciousness, back pain (hemorrhagic fever).

After a tick bite, it is necessary to measure the temperature daily for 2 weeks and observe the state of health: any changes that appear should not be ignored.

First aid for a tick bite

You should also consult a doctor if a trace of a possible tick bite was found on the skin or the signs of infection with any of the tick-borne infections described above appear. If necessary, after examination, the doctor prescribes an appropriate course of treatment with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs or recommends immunotherapy.

Taking antibiotics after a tick bite is not always justified. If it is impossible to immediately consult a doctor, for the purpose of emergency prevention, it is better to take immunomodulators (for example, iodantipyrine). Allergy sufferers can take antihistamines.

Tick-borne encephalitis is an acute viral disease that mainly affects nerve cells in the human body. These can be structures of the brain, peripheral innervation, or radicular nerve endings in the spinal cord.

The main source of infection is the ixodid taiga tick. For the reproduction of these insects, animal or human blood is needed. Spring-summer seasonality is associated with the biology of tick vectors. The virus, entering the tick's stomach with the blood of infected animals, penetrates into all organs of the tick and is then transferred to other animals, and is also transmitted to the offspring of the tick (transovarial transmission of the virus).

The penetration of the virus into the milk of farm animals (goats) has been proven, therefore alimentary ways of infection of people through goats and cows are possible. Alimentary “goat” endemic foci of encephalitis have been established in various regions of the former Soviet Union.

Where is tick-borne encephalitis common?

Currently, the disease with tick-borne encephalitis is registered almost throughout the territory of Russia (about 50 territories of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation are registered), where ticks are its main carriers. The most disadvantaged regions in terms of morbidity are: the Ural, West Siberian, East Siberian and Far East regions, and from the adjacent to the Moscow region - Tver and Yaroslavl.

Incubation period

The time from the moment of infection until the first symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis appear is approximately 10-14 days. The incubation period can be lengthened in people who received vaccinations against tick-borne encephalitis in childhood.

There are also several stages of the disease:

1. Lightning fast. With her, the initial symptoms appear already on the first day. In the absence of adequate treatment, the sick person quickly falls into a coma and dies from paralysis of the central nervous system.
2. Protracted. In this case, the duration of the incubation period can be about a month, sometimes even slightly longer.

The first signs of the disease (what you should pay attention to): usually a week after resting in nature, a person suddenly develops a headache, nausea, vomiting that does not bring relief, an increase in body temperature to 39-40 °, severe weakness. Then cerebral symptoms join: paralysis of the limbs, strabismus, pain along the nerve endings, convulsions, loss of consciousness.

Classification

The clinical classification of tick-borne encephalitis is based on determining the form, severity and nature of the course of the disease. Tick-borne encephalitis forms:

• inapparent (subclinical):
• feverish;
• meningeal;
• meningoencephalitic;
• polio;
• polyradiculoneuritic.

By the nature of the course, acute, two-wave and chronic (progressive) course are distinguished.

Tick-borne encephalitis symptoms

After a tick bite, the virus multiplies in the tissues, penetrates the lymph nodes and blood. When the virus multiplies and enters the bloodstream, flu-like symptoms form. The virus crosses the blood-brain barrier and affects the brain tissue - neurological symptoms occur.

But the brightness of clinical manifestations, the speed of their growth and specificity always depend on what subtype of the disease and on the place of localization of the virus.

1. European - it is characterized by 2 phases. The first is similar in manifestations to the flu and lasts about a week. The second phase is characterized by lesions of the nervous system of varying degrees: from mild meningitis to severe encephalitis.
2. Far Eastern- usually begins with a febrile state, is acute. Other symptoms can increase just as quickly, leading to paralysis and coma. The lethal outcome can be within 6-7 days.

Despite the wide variety of symptoms and manifestations of the course of the disease, there are 4 main clinical forms of tick-borne encephalitis:

1. Feverish. Tick-borne encephalitis virus does not affect the central nervous system, only symptoms of fever appear, namely high fever, weakness and body aches, loss of appetite, headache and nausea. The fever can last up to 10 days. Cerebrospinal fluid does not change, symptoms of damage to the nervous system are absent. The forecast is the most favorable.
2. Meningeal. After a period of fever, a temporary decrease in temperature occurs, the virus enters the nervous system at this time, and again the temperature rises sharply, signs of neurological disorders appear. Headaches with vomiting, severe photophobia and stiffness of the muscles of the occiput, symptoms of irritation of the membranes of the brain, and changes in cerebrospinal fluid appear.
3. Meningoencephalitic... It is characterized by damage to brain cells, which are characterized by impaired consciousness, mental disorders, convulsions, weakness in the limbs, paralysis.
4. Poliomyelitis... The onset of this form of the disease is manifested by severe fatigue, general weakness. Numbness occurs in the body, after which flaccid paralysis of the muscles of the neck and arms, proximal parts of the upper limbs appears. Hanging head syndrome appears. An increase in movement disorders occurs within a week, after which atrophy of the affected muscles occurs. The poliomyelitis form of the course of the disease occurs quite often, in almost 30% of cases. The course is unfavorable, disability is possible.

It is worth noting that different people have different susceptibility to tick-borne encephalitis disease. When living for a long time in a natural focus, a person may be exposed to repeated suction by ticks with the ingress of small doses of the virus. After that, antibodies are produced in the blood, the accumulation of which contributes to the development of immunity to the virus. If such people become infected, then the disease will be mild.

Diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis

In the case of tick-borne encephalitis, diagnosis is carried out using tomographic studies of the brain, serological and virological studies. Based on all indicators, an accurate diagnosis is established.

Brain damage is determined primarily on the basis of complaints during a neurological examination by a doctor. The presence of inflammation and the nature of brain damage are established, the causes of encephalitis are determined.

How to treat tick-borne encephalitis

There is no specific treatment for tick-borne encephalitis. If symptoms occur that indicate damage to the central nervous system (meningitis, encephalitis), the patient should be immediately hospitalized for maintenance therapy. Corticosteroids are often used as symptomatic treatment. In severe cases, it becomes necessary to intubate the trachea, followed by mechanical ventilation.

Etiotropic therapy consists in the appointment of a homologous gamma globulin, titrated against the tick-borne encephalitis virus. Thanks to this drug, a clear therapeutic effect can be observed, especially when it comes to a severe or moderate course of the disease. Gamma globulin is injected in 6 ml intramuscularly, every day for three days. The therapeutic effect is observed 13-24 hours after the administration of the drug - the patient's body temperature returns to normal, the general condition improves, meningeal phenomena and headaches decrease, and may even disappear completely. In recent years, for the treatment of tick-borne encephalitis, serum immunoglobulin and homologous polyglobulin, which are obtained from the blood plasma of donors living in natural foci of tick-borne encephalitis, have been used.

Only 2-3 weeks after intensive treatment, subject to the normalization of body functions and stabilization of the condition, the patient must be discharged from the hospital. Hard work, mental strain are contraindicated. Regular walks are recommended, and it is advisable to use tick repellents. A doctor's visit is compulsory for two years.

Tick-borne encephalitis and its prevention

As a specific prophylaxis of tick-borne encephalitis, vaccination is used, which is the most reliable preventive measure. All persons living in or leaving endemic areas are subject to compulsory vaccination. The population in endemic areas is about half of the total population of Russia.

In Russia, vaccination is carried out with foreign (FSME, Encepur) or domestic vaccines according to the basic and emergency schemes. The basic scheme (0, 1-3, 9-12 months) is carried out with subsequent revaccination every 3-5 years. To form immunity by the beginning of the epidemic season, the first dose is administered in the fall, the second in the winter. An emergency scheme (two injections with an interval of 14 days) is used for unvaccinated persons who come to endemic foci in the spring and summer. Emergency vaccinated persons are immunized for only one season (immunity develops in 2-3 weeks), after 9-12 months they are given the third injection.

As an emergency prophylaxis during tick sucking, unvaccinated people are injected intramuscularly with immunoglobulin from 1.5 to 3 ml. depending on age. After 10 days, the drug is re-injected in an amount of 6 ml.

Forecast

With tick-borne encephalitis, the prognosis for dysentery depends on the degree of damage to the nervous system. With a febrile form, as a rule, all patients recover completely. With the meningeal form, the prognosis is also favorable, but in some cases persistent complications from the central nervous system in the form of chronic headaches and the development of migraines can be observed.

The focal form of tick-borne encephalitis is the most unfavorable prognosis. The mortality rate can be as high as 30 people per 100 cases. Complications of this form are the occurrence of persistent paralysis, convulsive syndrome, decreased mental abilities.

Where to get vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis 2016?

In 2016, in Moscow, in all administrative districts from March to September, vaccination centers operate annually at the bases of polyclinics, medical units, health centers of educational institutions: (in the Western Administrative District - in children's polyclinic No. 119; in polyclinics for adults: No. 209, No. MSU polyclinic No. 202), as well as the Central Vaccination Center on the basis of polyclinic No. 13 (Trubnaya st., 19, building 1 telephone: 621-94-65).

Where to conduct a laboratory test of ticks?

Investigations of ticks for infection with pathogens of natural focal infections are carried out at the Federal Budgetary Healthcare Institution "Federal Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology", the Federal State Budgetary Healthcare Institution "Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in Moscow", and the Federal State Budgetary Institution Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor.
When contacting the laboratory, it is necessary to provide information about the date and territory where the tick was sucked in (region, region, settlement).

With the onset of the warm season, we all rush to the bosom of nature, away from the dynamic life of the city. But few people think about what dangers can lie in wait for us in parks and forests. It is in the spring that the risk of infection with tick-borne encephalitis is high. Therefore, everyone should know about the disease itself, the methods of infection, the causative agent, symptoms, as well as preventive measures to protect themselves, loved ones and pets.

What types of ticks carry encephalitis

Ixodid ticks (Ixodidae) are carriers of the pathogen of tick-borne encephalitis, a disease that mainly affects nerve cells in the human body. These can be structures of the brain, peripheral innervation, or radicular nerve endings in the spinal cord. Science knows about 650 species of these arachnids. In our latitudes, the greatest danger is posed by two species: taiga and canine.

Encephalitis tick is a carrier of a dangerous and incurable viral disease today

Every year, about 2.5 thousand Russians are infected with the encephalitis virus.

A small spider from 4 to 6 mm, belonging to the order of arthropods. Most often it can be found in the forests of Siberia, the Urals, the Far East. Due to the fact that over the last century there has been a sharp warming of the climate, the usual habitat of the taiga tick has also expanded. Today it can be found more and more often in Belarus, the Baltic countries and in the south-east of France. Taiga ticks are carriers of Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis.
On the territory of Russia, the taiga tick is one of two species that carry the encephalitis virus

This type of tick is widespread in the European zone of Russia, as well as in the countries of Central and Northern Europe. At the end of spring and early summer, there is a peak in the number of their bites. The dog tick is similar to the taiga representative of the family, and by their external features it is almost impossible to distinguish them from each other. Today it is quite often found in summer cottages and household plots, in tourist centers, in places where dogs are kept. A humid microclimate and the presence of a host are the main conditions for survival.
Dog ticks are dangerous not only for animals, but also for humans.

Contrary to popular belief, ticks rarely fall from trees. Most often they live in grass, soil and fallen leaves.

Ticks are the main carriers of viral encephalitis. But one cannot judge by the appearance of a tick whether it is infected or not. This can only be detected in laboratory conditions. The source of the disease is both the bloodsucker himself and his larvae. The reason for the infection of the tick can be considered its previous activity on a sick animal.

How ixodid ticks reproduce

The female tick lays about 15 thousand eggs after drinking blood. But not everyone will enter the adult stage, it largely depends on natural conditions. As a result, usually only a few dozen individuals are obtained. The masonry matures within a few weeks.

Incredibly, ixodid ticks feed only 3-4 times in their entire life, which lasts several years: in the larval stage, in the nymph stage, as adults a couple of times.

The larva feeds once. Small warm-blooded animals become her victims, since it is difficult for her to get upstairs. The feeding process can take 2-3 days, and then the larva becomes a nymph (an adult without sexual maturity). In this state, the individual hibernates. With the onset of spring, the nymph is ready to hunt, and larger animals become its victims. In this state, it matures to the stage of an adult (adult sexually mature individual) within a year. Unlike females, sexually mature males need from 30 minutes to several hours of preliminary saturation to be able to mate.

Video: one tick - two diseases

Activity of encephalitis ticks in Russia

Long-term observations of ticks have formed a clear idea of ​​where the centers of insect habitat are mainly located. This allows physicians to calculate the density of bloodsucking and predict the scale of the problem in the current season.

Encephalitis incidence maps are compiled on the basis of official data from the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance of the Russian Federation on the maximum incidence for the current year.

The map of the activity of an encephalitis tick forms an idea of ​​\ u200b \ u200bwhat is the density of distribution of a blood-sucking tick on the territory of the country, marks the most dangerous regions

The first signs of an encephalitis tick bite in humans

Sometimes a tick bite, including encephalitis, is very difficult to notice right away, because the symptoms are similar to the malaise that is observed in many diseases. Nevertheless, a number of special characteristic features can be noted. The incubation period of the virus lasts at least 1-2 weeks, and only after this time the first signs begin to appear.

The tick bite becomes noticeable after some time due to its characteristic features.

Symptoms of the initial stage of infection:

• high body temperature, which can alternate with chills;
• severe weakness, malaise;
• numbness and / or twitching in the neck, collarbone, shoulder blades, or limbs;
• pain and stiffness of muscles in the cervicothoracic region, in the calves of the legs, in the arms, joints;
• severe headache and dizziness, since a viral infection primarily affects the brain and spinal cord;
• vision problems, loss of image sharpness, irritation from bright light;
• rejection of harsh sounds;
• problems in the digestive tract (gastrointestinal tract) - loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.

The first signs of an encephalitis tick bite in a child or a pregnant woman appear in the same way as in other victims.

The second phase of tick-borne encephalitis (after 8 days of remission) is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• fever;
• severe headache;
• muscle tone of the neck;
• convulsions;
• impaired consciousness;
• motor disorders.

Symptoms of borreliosis (Lyme disease)

Borreliosis occurs in 3 stages. Each has its own characteristic features:

Why the tick bite is not felt right away

Physically, the bite of any tick is not felt by a person. The arachnid completely imperceptibly injects an anesthetic substance into the victim's skin with its proboscis, the so-called hypostome.
The tick digs into human skin with the help of a proboscis with teeth, which is called a hypostome.

The likelihood of contracting encephalitis from a tick bite

The risk of contracting a tick infection is highly geographic. In regions endemic for the disease (the Urals, Siberia, the Far East), the probability of infection with encephalitis is 20%. In the European part of Russia, this figure is lower.

In the southern regions of our country, the risk of disease is 0, since the tick in these places is a carrier of borreliosis and Crimean fever.

First aid for tick bites at home

The first step is to quickly remove the tick. The longer it sucks blood, the higher the concentration of infection (if any) in the human body.

At home, the tick can be removed with ordinary tweezers. It should be pulled out with twisting movements, gently grabbing it at the point of suction to the body (in close proximity to the proboscis) so as not to tear off part of it or crush it. In case of damage to the bloodsucker, additional infection will occur if it is infected.

At home, the tick can be removed with ordinary tweezers.

Video: how to remove a tick

How to treat the bite site

After the tick is completely removed, the skin around the damaged area is treated with a disinfectant, for example:

• hydrogen peroxide or iodine;
• alcohol or alcohol-containing liquid (toilet water, lotion).

Do not allow these substances to get directly to the bite site. This can cause severe burns. The only permitted remedy for treating open wounds is brilliant green.

What to do with a tick after removal

After removing the tick, in no case should you crush it (to avoid more infection)... Regardless of whether he is alive or dead, he is placed in an airtight container (bag, jar) and delivered to the laboratory for research within 2 days.

Is it possible to get encephalitis without a tick bite?

Scientists have identified 2 mechanisms of infection:

• transmissible - infection occurs through the skin during a bite;
• alimentary - infection occurs when drinking milk from an infected animal.

What to do if a tick bites a pregnant woman

If a pregnant woman has been attacked by a tick, it is worth maintaining composure and not giving in to panic. If possible, you should contact a medical institution to remove it.

When a diagnosis of encephalitis or borreliosis is made, treatment is necessary only under the supervision of a specialist. It is strictly forbidden to self-medicate, it can cost the life of a pregnant woman and an unborn child.

Tick ​​bite treatment

If a tick bite is found, you should as soon as possible seek qualified medical help from a therapist or infectious disease specialist. They will help you to get it out in the emergency room. You can also call the health center or ambulance station to find out the address to contact.

In a medical institution, they will competently remove the tick from the skin and tell you how to proceed.

Diagnosis of infection after a tick bite

To identify a tick-borne infection, the victim takes a whole set of tests in the laboratory:

• ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Today it is the most common and most informative analysis. Indicates whether antibodies to a virus or infection are present in the human body. The human body is characterized by 2 types of antibodies: IgG and IgM. They are found in the case of the appearance of pathogenic microorganisms. If M group proteins are detected in the analysis, treatment begins immediately, because this indicates an infection.
• Western blot method - used for early detection of tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis. It is similar to ELISA and is based on the study of venous blood.
• The immunofluorescence method is the most available analysis today. Due to its low cost, it is carried out in almost all medical institutions.
• PCR (polymerase chain reaction method) is sometimes used to clarify the diagnosis. It helps to detect antibodies in urine and even in the skin.
• Cerebrospinal fluid analysis - used in rare cases when it is impossible to make a diagnosis based on the results of other studies.

Personally, I did not have to deal with the problem of tick bites, but of course there are some of my friends. Two years ago, my friend's 9-year-old daughter was bitten by a tick. The doctor carefully removed it with tweezers, treated the bite site with medical alcohol for the purpose of disinfection, and gamma globulin was injected intramuscularly to the baby. Parents were advised to closely monitor the condition of the child, as well as to ensure compliance with bed rest. After 10 days, the child was tested, and everyone sighed with relief, learning that everything was behind and nothing terrible had happened.

Complications of encephalitis and borreliosis

With a bite of an ixodid tick, serious complications can occur that are dangerous to human health and life.... These include:

• failure in the neuropsychic system (neuroses and psychosis, nerve paralysis, dementia);
• pathology from the heart (arrhythmia, angina pectoris);
• damage to the senses (loss of vision, hearing);
• the appearance at the site of the bite of benign neoplasms.

Undoubtedly, each of the listed diseases sharply reduces the standard of living of the victim, or even makes a person disabled. In severe cases, death can occur.

Measures for the prevention of tick-borne encephalitis

Vaccination is the only specific measure to prevent infection.... Vaccinations against tick-borne encephalitis are shown to persons who work in the endemic foci constantly or leave them for a while (business travelers, tourists, vacationers, gardeners and summer residents).

If a cat or dog is bitten by an infected tick, then the animal develops piroplasmosis. The carrier is a dog tick. The incubation period after the bite lasts from 2 to 3 weeks. Most often, animals with weak immunity are susceptible to the disease, as a result of the development of the disease, they die.
As a result of a tick bite, an animal can develop piroplasmosis - a serious disease of the circulatory system

Symptoms

Symptoms of the disease:

• increased body temperature;
• disorders of the musculoskeletal system;
• convulsions;
• general lethargy;
• tachycardia.

The nervous system is most affected by the causative agent of the disease when bitten.... The animal shows aggression, its behavior becomes unpredictable. A sure sign of the development of an infection is an admixture of blood in the urine and further darkening of the urine.

First aid to the animal

A cat or dog can become a carrier of ticks and thus pose a danger to humans. Therefore, after a pet's stay in potentially dangerous places, it is necessary to carefully examine it and observe hygiene rules.