What happens if a tick that causes encephalitis bites? - briefly
A bite from a tick infected with an encephalitis‑causing virus can transmit the pathogen, triggering inflammation of the brain. Resulting symptoms may include fever, severe headache, confusion, and neurological deficits, requiring immediate medical assessment.
What happens if a tick that causes encephalitis bites? - in detail
When a tick infected with the tick‑borne encephalitis (TBE) virus attaches to the skin, the virus may be introduced into the dermis within several hours of attachment. Immediate local reactions are limited to a painless bite mark; the pathogen does not cause pain or itching at the site.
The incubation period ranges from 7 to 14 days, extending up to 28 days in rare cases. During this interval, the virus replicates in regional lymph nodes and spreads via the bloodstream to the central nervous system.
Clinical presentation follows a biphasic pattern.
- First phase (flu‑like stage): sudden fever, headache, malaise, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea. Symptoms last 2–7 days and may resolve spontaneously.
- Second phase (neurological stage): occurs in 30–50 % of cases after a brief asymptomatic interval. Manifestations include meningitis (neck stiffness, photophobia), meningoencephalitis (confusion, seizures, focal neurological deficits), or acute flaccid paralysis. Severe cases can progress to coma and death.
Laboratory confirmation relies on detection of specific IgM antibodies in serum or cerebrospinal fluid, supplemented by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) when early diagnosis is required. Imaging (MRI) may reveal inflammation in the basal ganglia, thalamus, or brainstem.
Therapeutic measures are primarily supportive: antipyretics for fever, analgesics for pain, and careful monitoring of neurological status. No specific antiviral drug is approved for TBE; corticosteroids are reserved for cases with pronounced cerebral edema. Rehabilitation is essential for patients with persistent motor deficits.
Prevention focuses on avoidance of tick exposure and vaccination. Effective strategies include:
- Wearing long sleeves and trousers in endemic forests.
- Applying repellents containing DEET or picaridin to skin and clothing.
- Performing systematic tick checks after outdoor activities and removing attached ticks promptly with fine‑point tweezers.
- Administering the licensed TBE vaccine according to the recommended schedule, especially for individuals living in or traveling to high‑risk regions.
Prompt recognition of the biphasic course and early medical evaluation improve outcomes and reduce the risk of long‑term neurological complications.