How does infection from an encephalitis tick present? - briefly
Patients usually present with fever, headache, malaise, and neck stiffness, progressing to photophobia and altered mental status; severe disease may include seizures, ataxia, or paralysis.
How does infection from an encephalitis tick present? - in detail
Tick‑borne encephalitis (TBE) typically begins with a nonspecific febrile phase lasting 2–7 days. Patients develop high temperature, headache, malaise, myalgia, and occasionally nausea or vomiting. This prodrome may be accompanied by lymphadenopathy at the bite site and a mild rash in some cases.
After an asymptomatic interval of several days to weeks, a second neurological phase emerges. The central nervous system involvement manifests as:
- Severe headache, often frontal or occipital, resistant to simple analgesics.
- Neck stiffness and photophobia, indicating meningeal irritation.
- Altered consciousness ranging from lethargy to coma.
- Focal neurological deficits such as ataxia, tremor, or dysarthria.
- Cranial nerve palsies, most frequently facial nerve involvement.
- Seizures, which may be focal or generalized.
Laboratory findings include pleocytosis with lymphocytic predominance in cerebrospinal fluid, elevated protein, and normal glucose. Serum and CSF serology reveal IgM antibodies against TBE virus, confirming the diagnosis.
Complications can progress to long‑term sequelae: persistent motor weakness, cognitive impairment, or chronic fatigue. Early recognition of the biphasic pattern—initial systemic illness followed by acute encephalitic signs—guides timely supportive care and prevents misdiagnosis.