Why do people die from encephalitis ticks? - briefly
Tick‑borne encephalitis viruses provoke severe brain inflammation that leads to cerebral edema, hemorrhage, and rapid loss of vital functions, often resulting in death when diagnosis and supportive care are delayed. The disease’s swift progression to coma and respiratory failure, combined with the lack of specific antiviral treatment, explains the high fatality rate.
Why do people die from encephalitis ticks? - in detail
Tick‑borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of infected Ixodes ticks. The virus reaches the central nervous system, causing inflammation that can progress to encephalitis, meningitis, or meningoencephalitis. Fatal outcomes arise when several pathological processes converge:
- Rapid viral replication in neuronal tissue leads to widespread neuronal death and cerebral edema.
- Immune‑mediated damage intensifies inflammation, increasing intracranial pressure and causing hemorrhagic lesions.
- Disruption of the blood‑brain barrier allows inflammatory cells and cytokines to infiltrate the brain, worsening tissue injury.
- Secondary complications such as respiratory failure, cardiac arrhythmias, or septicemia develop in severe cases, further reducing survival chances.
Risk factors that elevate mortality include advanced age, immunosuppression, lack of prior vaccination, and delayed medical intervention. Early antiviral therapy is limited; supportive care—maintaining airway patency, controlling intracranial pressure, and managing systemic complications—remains the primary treatment. In regions where vaccination coverage is low, the incidence of lethal TBE cases remains significant.