What are the symptoms of encephalitis after a tick bite? - briefly
Typical manifestations include sudden fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion, seizures, and focal neurological deficits such as weakness or speech disturbances. These signs usually develop within days to weeks after the bite.
What are the symptoms of encephalitis after a tick bite? - in detail
Tick‑borne encephalitis (TBE) presents after a bite from an infected Ixodes tick with a biphasic course. The first phase, lasting 1–7 days, may include nonspecific flu‑like signs such as fever, headache, muscle aches, and malaise. After a brief asymptomatic interval, the second phase emerges, characterized by central nervous system involvement.
Typical neurological manifestations include:
- Severe, persistent headache often described as frontal or occipital.
- High‑grade fever that may exceed 39 °C.
- Neck stiffness and photophobia, indicating meningeal irritation.
- Altered mental status ranging from confusion and irritability to delirium.
- Cognitive deficits, including impaired concentration and short‑term memory loss.
- Focal neurological deficits such as cranial nerve palsies, especially facial nerve (VII) weakness.
- Motor abnormalities: tremor, ataxia, gait disturbances, and generalized or focal weakness.
- Seizure activity, which may be focal or generalized tonic‑clonic.
- Sensory disturbances, including paresthesia or dysesthesia in extremities.
- Visual disturbances, such as blurred vision or ocular motor dysfunction.
In severe cases, encephalitic involvement can progress to coma, respiratory failure, or autonomic instability. Laboratory findings often reveal pleocytosis in cerebrospinal fluid, elevated protein, and sometimes intrathecal synthesis of specific IgM antibodies against TBE virus. Early recognition of these signs is critical for prompt supportive care and antiviral considerations.