Live Life Team
It is a viral infection that is spread by ticks inside the nervous system. Even if the tick bites there are chances of being infected. Sometimes a bite from the tick can cause inflammation of the brain region, tissues around the brain and the spinal cord. It generally occurs in the central and eastern parts of Europe. The saliva of the tick contains the natural anaesthetic which helps in transmitting the disease. Once the ticks are affected with the virus they last in the ticks forever, the virus is also commonly found in animals like mouse and voles. They are not usually seen in areas that are 1000 meters above the ground level. These ticks generally thrive in mild winters and wet summers.
SYMPTOMS
Stage I
Symptoms include: Fever, Headache, Flu-like illness, Tiredness, Muscle pain, Nausea and general discomfort that can last for up to eight days
Stage II Symptoms are: Headache, high fever, stiff neck, stupor and disorientation and can lead to meningitis in children.
Adults above the age of 40 are most likely to develop encephalitis. People above the age of 60 are likely die once affected.
DIAGNOSIS
The general physician is most like to ask questions such as, ‘have you been traveling,’, ‘have you been bitten by ticks,’, and ‘what are the symptoms,’ A sample of the blood is taken to test for viruses. A thorough brain scan is suggested to check for lumbar puncture and encephalitis. Fluid from the spinal chord is taken to check for inflammation of the membrane protecting the central nervous system.
Protective measures that need to be taken once the victim realizes he has been infected:
While traveling in countries that are most likely to be affected by this disease, the person should remove the tick with tweezers upon realizing that he is bitten by one
If you realize that you are showing some of the symptoms after 28 days of a tick bite, get yourself checked thoroughly immediately.
TREATMENT
Mild TBE generally needs no treatment; you get better with time, without taking any medication. There is no definite drug that is used to treat TBE. When the symptoms are mild, medication is not needed and you can expect total recovery with no side effects. When the symptoms are that of stage II then you can expect some permanent damage to your nervous system.
PREVENTION
Before traveling: People who travel a lot, especially bird watchers, campers, hikers and scouts, and workers like soldiers, farmers and forestry workers should make sure they are vaccinated with the TBE vaccine. It is advisable to get the vaccination early on in the winter season to ensure you remain protected in the spring season (when ticks are active). Side effects may include redness, swelling and pain near the injected areas. Some of the other side effects are headache, tiredness, and nausea and muscle pain.
The vaccine should not be taken if:
- The person is allergic to eggs because it contains egg protein.
- The person has a fever; it can be taken after the fever is down.
