In the spring-summer period, when traveling to nature, there is a possibility of catching tick-borne encephalitis. Tick-borne encephalitis is an acute viral disease that is characterized by damage to the gray brain substance, which can lead to paralysis and paresis.
How does the infection occur?
The causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis is a virus resistant to the influence of the external environment, which is transferred from wild animals to humans by an ixodid tick. After biting a person, an encephalitic mite passes a virus into the bloodstream. Also there is another way of infection, from which children often suffer, - infection through raw goat milk.
Signs of encephalitis in children
Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis infection in children appear after 1 to 3 weeks. Manifestations of tick-borne encephalitis begin acutely: the temperature rises sharply to 39-40 degrees and lasts for several days, weakness in the extremities and muscles of the neck, headache, nausea. The consciousness can be disturbed, up to its complete loss (a state of coma), because of which there is paralysis of the cervico-humeral region, a violation of swallowing. With erased forms, all manifestations are less pronounced.
How to identify encephalitis?
Since the disease is deadly, the task is to recognize encephalitis as soon as possible. One of the signs that the baby was bitten by a tick is erythema, a small migrating spot that gradually increases. Also, signs of brain damage and an indication of stay in the place of spread of the tick-borne encephalitis focus indicate the disease. The decisive importance is the identification of specific bodies in the clinic.
Prevention of tick-borne encephalitis
Unfortunately, treatment for encephalitis is a long process that takes years. In addition, even with intensive treatment, paralysis of the body is not excluded. Therefore, it is necessary to observe a number of measures:
- Do not give the baby and do not use unboiled goat's milk;
- Avoid rest on nature in places declared as hotbeds of infection;
- wear socks and closed shoes when leaving for picnics, lubricate the skin with special means designed to repel ticks;
- carefully inspect the child's body for mites after leaving the forest;
- if you live in natural foci of infection, vaccinate.
Children are vaccinated against encephalitis, starting from the age of 4.