Encephalitis of the brain is a dangerous disease

Encephalitis is a group of diseases characterized by inflammation of the brain, which causes microorganisms penetrating it. Encephalitis of the brain can, in some cases, proceed in a very mild form, and maybe in a very severe, sometimes fatal outcome.

Encephalitis is primary and secondary. Primary include tick, mosquito, epidemic, herpetic, enterovirus, etc. Secondary - are caused by different microbial flora and arise as complications against the background of measles, flu, typhus, brain abscess, toxoplasmosis, scarlet fever, osteomyelitis and other diseases.

Encephalitis of the brain can occur in the form of isolated cases or epidemic outbreaks. The disease is more common among children and young people. In rural areas, encephalitis is usually caused by a virus that carries ticks or mosquitoes. You can get infected in other ways - through milk from a cow or a goat infected with a virus. In cities, the disease is most often caused by enteroviruses present in the digestive tract, which are then excreted with feces.

The severity of the symptoms of encephalitis varies greatly. The disease caused by the bite of a mosquito or tick can easily flow and even go unnoticed, and can lead to death. Caused by the herpes virus, it can also go in mild or acute, very dangerous, even fatal.

Encephalitis of the brain Often develops sharply, with a headache, vomiting, an increase in temperature to 39-40C. Some of its types start with general weakness, malaise, catarrhal phenomena (cough, runny nose), headache, and fever. In especially severe cases, there is confusion, excitement, hallucinations, delirium, convulsive seizures.

Some encephalitis in the chronic period occur with different clinical manifestations of the disease. For example, chronic epidemic brain encephalitis is characterized by parkinsonism syndrome, when facial expressions become inexpressive, gait becomes difficult and becomes aching or shuffling, there is an increase in muscle tone, trembling of the hands. In case of tick-borne encephalitis , kozhevnikovskaya epilepsy develops: clonic convulsions (rapid involuntary movements of the trunk and extremities), which often turn into a general fit.

Encephalitis of the brain: consequences

The consequences of the disease, whether it be mosquito, tick-borne, influenza or enteroviral encephalitis, depend on the characteristics in the clinical picture. There can come either complete recovery, without consequences, or for many years to remain various residual phenomena, such as impaired coordination, weakness in the limbs, involuntary movements, convulsive attacks, paralysis. Many patients, long after recovery, complain of rapid fatigue, poor sleep, headache, memory loss, can not perform mental, as well as the usual physical work before the illness.

Encephalitis of the brain They are treated necessarily in a hospital. With all forms of encephalitis, to reduce intracranial pressure and reduce cerebral edema, a solution of mannitol, magnesium sulfate, and lasix is prescribed. Assign vitamins B and C group, nootropic drugs (cerebrolysin, nootropil, encephabol, etc.), calcium preparations. In acute epidemic encephalitis, sulfamides (sulfadimezin, etazol), corticosteroids (prednisolone), and urotropine are used. When tick-borne, hyperimmune horse serum, ribonuclease, specific g-globulin are injected. In the chronic stage, with kozhevnikovskoy epilepsy used anticonvulsant drugs, with Parkinsonism - anti-Parkinsonics.

For the prevention of diseases, people working in disadvantaged areas (geologists, hunters, timber cutters, loggers), do preventive vaccinations. In addition, they are recommended to wear protective clothing and apply repellents and protective nets.

Prevention of enteroviral encephalitis is carried out as with any other intestinal diseases, including nationwide measures.