What are the symptoms of a tick with encephalitis? - briefly
Early infection presents with fever, severe headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and nausea; as the disease progresses, patients may develop neck stiffness, altered mental status, seizures, and focal neurological deficits such as weakness or paralysis.
What are the symptoms of a tick with encephalitis? - in detail
Tick‑borne encephalitis presents after an incubation of 7–14 days. The illness typically follows a biphasic pattern.
The first phase resembles a nonspecific viral infection. Patients develop:
- High fever (often > 38.5 °C)
- Headache, sometimes severe
- Generalized weakness and fatigue
- Myalgia and arthralgia
- Nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite
These symptoms may last 2–7 days and can resolve spontaneously, creating a brief asymptomatic interval before the second phase.
The second phase involves central‑nervous‑system involvement. Clinical features include:
- Persistent fever and chills
- Neck stiffness and photophobia (meningitic signs)
- Altered mental status: confusion, disorientation, or lethargy
- Focal neurological deficits: cranial nerve palsies, especially facial weakness
- Motor disturbances: tremor, ataxia, dysarthria, or paralysis of limbs
- Seizures, which may be focal or generalized
- Sensory disturbances: paresthesia or numbness
Severe cases can progress to encephalomyelitis, producing respiratory failure or coma. Approximately 10–30 % of patients develop lasting neurologic sequelae, such as memory impairment, persistent gait instability, or chronic headaches.
Laboratory findings often show pleocytosis in cerebrospinal fluid, elevated protein, and normal glucose. Imaging may reveal inflammation of the brain parenchyma, especially in the basal ganglia, thalamus, or brainstem.
Prompt recognition of these manifestations enables early supportive care and, where available, antiviral therapy, reducing the risk of long‑term complications.