How is encephalitis caused by a tick treated? - briefly
Management involves intravenous antiviral therapy, typically acyclovir, combined with supportive care such as fluid replacement, antipyretics, and close neurological monitoring. If a bacterial co‑infection is identified, targeted antibiotics are added to the regimen.
How is encephalitis caused by a tick treated? - in detail
Tick‑borne encephalitis requires rapid assessment and targeted therapy. Initial management focuses on stabilizing the patient, securing airway, breathing, and circulation, and preventing secondary complications. Intravenous fluids are administered to maintain perfusion; antipyretics control fever. Neurological monitoring includes serial examinations and, when indicated, electroencephalography to detect seizures, which are treated with benzodiazepines followed by longer‑acting antiepileptics.
Specific antiviral agents are limited. In regions where the disease is endemic, supportive care remains the cornerstone, but experimental use of ribavirin has been reported in severe cases; its efficacy is not established, and therapy is reserved for clinical trials or compassionate use. Broad‑spectrum antibiotics are given empirically until bacterial meningitis is excluded by cerebrospinal fluid analysis, which typically shows lymphocytic pleocytosis, elevated protein, and normal or low glucose.
Corticosteroids may be employed to reduce cerebral edema, especially when imaging reveals significant swelling. Dosage follows standard protocols for neuroinflammatory conditions, usually methylprednisolone 1 g intravenously daily for three to five days, then tapering. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is considered in immune‑mediated variants or when autoimmune encephalitis is suspected.
Rehabilitation begins as soon as the acute phase resolves. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy address residual motor, cognitive, and language deficits. Long‑term follow‑up includes neuropsychological testing, serial imaging, and vaccination against tick‑borne encephalitis for at‑risk individuals. Preventive measures—prompt tick removal, use of repellents, and vaccination in endemic areas—reduce incidence and recurrence.