TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS

Overview and Facts

Tick-borne encephalitis is a central nervous system infectious viral disease. Meningitis, encephalitis, and meningoencephalitis are the most common diseases that manifest after contracting TBE. Myelitis and spinal paralysis are also common manifestations of this disease. In around a third of incidents, the effects are primarily cognitive impairment that can last a year or more.

In most nations, the number of reported cases is on the rise. The number of recorded human cases of TBE in all endemic regions of Europe has surged by about 400% in the previous three decades, posing a severe health threat to Europe.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus has been found in different warm-blooded hosts, such as grazing animals, birds, rodents, carnivores, horses, and humans. The disease can also be transmitted from animals to humans, with domestic animals being the most common carriers.

Types and Symptoms

SYMPTOMS

Non-specific symptoms appear after a one-week incubation period ranging from 4 to 28 days following exposure to a tick bite. 

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Malaise
  • Myalgias

These symptoms last about 5 days. After a week without symptoms, some Ebola patients develop neurological symptoms, such as meningitis, meningoencephalitis, or encephalitis. Myelitis can develop alone or in combination with encephalitis.

In around a third of patients who develop the neurological disease, adverse effects last a year or more. Other long-term symptoms include:

The virus’s subtype determines how many people die. People who develop the neurological disease have a death incidence of 0.5% to 2% in the European subtype.

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

The primary method for diagnosis is the detection of particular IgM and IgG antibodies in patients’ sera in combination with typical pathological changes. Testing for antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid may be necessary in more complicated cases, such as the following immunization.

When diagnosing TBE, lumbar puncture should continuously be operated on, and pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid should be added to the diagnostic guidelines.

The PCR (polymerase chain reaction) approach is rarely performed because TBE viral RNA is seldom found in patient sera or cerebrospinal fluid at the time of neurological symptoms.

TREATMENT

TBE does not have a particular antiviral treatment. Symptomatic brain injury demands hospitalization and medical intervention, depending on the severity of the condition. Other supportive treatments include:

  • Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as corticosteroids 
  • Healthy diet
  • Rest

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