Brain encephalitis is a whole group of inflammatory diseases, and the disease can be caused not only by an infectious pathogen, but also by infectious-allergic processes, exposure to toxins. For this reason, it is quite difficult to recognize this disease - it has too many symptoms. However, it is important to diagnose the pathology on time, in order to start treatment, this will allow starting early therapy to avoid complications.
Characteristics and causes
Brain encephalitis is a broad concept that includes a number of inflammatory diseases. Most often, such inflammation develops when the pathogen penetrates into the human body or as a result of allergic reactions.
The main reason for the development of pathology is neuroinfection. As a result, microbes and viruses interfere with the work of nerve fibers, vessels, neurons, which adversely affects the functionality of the nervous system. Signs of intoxication begin to appear, the membrane and parts of the brain are affected. Depending on the affected area, encephalitis and meningitis are isolated.
Meningitis is accompanied by inflammation of the cerebral cortex, develops due to hypothermia, the penetration of viruses, fungi, bacteria. Encephalitis is a serious condition in which the brain inflames. This pathology is characterized by a severe course and a high probability of death.
Encephalitis can be primary and secondary:
The source of infection in the primary form is usually insects. An infected insect bites a person, after which the virus spreads through the blood to the brain and other organs. This form of the disease is manifested in the rabies virus, herpes, flu, coxsackie. Microbial encephalitis is formed, for example, due to syphilis. Based on the causes of the primary form of the disease, mite, epidemic, viral, herpetic, mosquito encephalitis is isolated. In addition, DPT vaccination, smallpox, etc., can lead to encephalitis.- The secondary form of encephalitis is a consequence of diseases such as rubella, toxoplasmosis, etc. You can become infected as by airborne droplets, and through the use of infected products.
The source of infection in the primary form is usually insects. An infected insect bites a person, after which the virus spreads through the blood to the brain and other organs. This form of the disease is manifested in the rabies virus, herpes, flu, coxsackie. Microbial encephalitis is formed, for example, due to syphilis. Based on the causes of the primary form of the disease, mite, epidemic, viral, herpetic, mosquito encephalitis is isolated. In addition, DPT vaccination, smallpox, etc., can lead to encephalitis.The main risk factors include:
- age: up to 1 year and after 60 years;
- herpes simplex virus;
- reduced immunity;
- summer-autumn period, when insects, carriers of neuroinfection, are most active.
The main types of diseases
Each type of brain encephalitis is characterized by certain symptoms.
Epidemic
Its second name is lethargic. It is diagnosed in both adults and children. Symptomatology: a sharp increase in temperature, headaches, pain in the joint tissue. The patient may experience confusion, hallucinations, delusions. In the subsequent the squint can be added, excessive sweating, problems with breath.
Tick
The frequency of detection of such a disease grows in spring and summer, when infected ticks are most active. When ingested, the infection enters the brain through blood. As a result, a person begins to be afraid of bright light, he has a severe headache, vomiting. For a short time, numbness of the limbs occurs, the muscular structure paralyzes.
Mosquito
His second name is Japanese. The disease is accompanied by high fever, vomiting, confusion. Shaken limbs and seizures may be recorded. This type of disease is characterized by a high percentage of death.
Influenza
Develops as a complication of influenza. The disease is manifested by nausea, headache, weakness, underweight. Often enters the victim into a coma.
Windmill
This species is progressing after suffering from chicken pox. The disease is more often diagnosed in childhood. The patient becomes weak, becomes sluggish, poor coordination of movements can occur, paralysis of the limbs, epileptic seizures develop.
Herpetic
The herpes virus infects the cerebral cortex. This type of disease progresses very slowly, leading to impaired consciousness, severe headache.
Signs and symptoms of the disease
The symptoms of brain encephalitis are differentiated depending on the type of the disease, the location of the pathogen. But there are several common manifestations of this pathology. So, encephalitis leads to an increase in body temperature, can cause digestive disorders, dysfunction of the respiratory organs.
Additionally, you may receive:
- vomiting;
- epileptic seizures;
- increasing headache;
- photophobia.
Some patients have problems with the perception of reality, there may be physical hyperactivity, a wrong understanding of the parameters and forms of all objects.
In addition, encephalitis can be asymptomatic, abortive or fulminant. Asymptomatic pathology is accompanied by a slight sore throat and slight dizziness. Abortive pathology can cause symptoms that resemble a cold or a stomach infection. But the most dangerous form is lightning, it can progress in just 1-2 hours. As a result, the body temperature rises sharply, a person may fall into a coma.
What can be complications?
Mild inflammation of the brain can occur without complications. In severe disease, encephalitis treatment may take several years.
The consequences of brain encephalitis can develop by no means in all people, since everything depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. The most dangerous situation, if the patient does not feel pain, while the virus spreads in the brain. In this case, there may be the following complications:
- Character change.
- Amnesia, which later may cause problems with short-term memory.
- Problems with motor activity.
- Mental disorders.
- Inability to concentrate.
- Degenerative processes in the brain structures, which, flowing for a long time, can cause disability or death.
Diagnostic measures for diagnosis
Diagnosis of this disease is very difficult. At the same time, different types of pathology may have similar initial clinical manifestations, which makes it difficult to conduct a differential diagnosis, and this is precisely what is needed to make an accurate diagnosis.
To date, the most informative method is the study of the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient. In order to carry out a puncture of the spinal cord, the patient is placed on a hard table, the legs must be pressed against the stomach, the patient must be gripped with his hands. In this case, the back of the patient should be bent.
Before the procedure, the doctor conducts the preparation: he processes the puncture points, hands, puts on sterile gloves. Do not do without the help of a nurse, which shows the doctor where the axes of the iliac bones are located, draws a line to look for a puncture site.
Puncture is done between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae in adults, in children - between the second and third. A needle is inserted into the intended location: in the presence of this pathology, the cerebrospinal fluid will flow under the influence of increased pressure.
The material for the fence is taken in 3 sterile tubes:
- one of the containers is sent for bacteriological examination;
- the other is needed to study the composition of cells;
- fluid from the third tank is used for serological testing.
In the presence of encephalitis, pleocytosis is observed in the patient, the amount of protein increases. It is also possible to detect red blood cells, due to which the liquor has a red color. Also for this disease is characterized by an increase in the level of sugar in the liquor.
When conducting serological studies it is possible to determine the antibodies of the pathogen, so you can make an accurate diagnosis. In addition, it is necessary to pass a complete blood count, which may be visible signs of the inflammatory process:
- increased ESR;
- increased white blood cell count;
- leukocyte shift to the left.
It is also necessary to carry out computed tomography, MRI, where you can detect focal changes of different density. Most likely, the patient will be sent to an ophthalmologist for examination of the fundus. A specialist can detect a stagnant optic nerve head, which also indicates brain damage.
It is necessary to check the blood for sterility, which will allow to identify or, conversely, not to detect any pathogenic microorganisms that are present in the blood and provoke the development of the disease.
At the moment, serological reactions of PH, RSK, RPGA, ELISA are actively introduced into practice. For a more accurate and detailed diagnosis, you must make an appointment with a neurologist.
The main symptoms of the disease in children and adults
In adults
Signs of encephalitis in adults include common brain, meningeal, and infectious symptoms.
Common symptoms:
- feeling unwell
- brokenness;
- total impotence.
Body temperature rises to +38 degrees and higher, chills may appear. With this disease, rhinorrhea may develop: dryness, tickling, and pain in the throat appear. Also, this group includes dyspeptic syndrome, that is, nausea, vomiting, rumbling in the stomach. In the clinical and biochemical examination of blood, changes that are characteristic not only of encephalitis, but also of other pathologies can be found.
Common brain symptoms include:
- headache;
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- nonsystem dizziness;
- mental problems;
- epileptic seizures.
Characterized by a violation of consciousness, which is manifested by a stopper, hallucinations.
By the meningeal signs include a "triad" of symptoms: headache, fever, vomiting.
Focal symptoms may be characterized by: local disturbance of sensitivity, decrease in lean body mass, hypertonicity of the muscles, problems with speech. With this disease, the patient can not read anything, write the words, ceases to recognize objects. Also characterized by problems with the coordination of movement, loss of memory, the appearance of tingling in the ears.
Newborns
The signs of the disease in children should be determined by the stage, localization of the inflammatory focus. Also, the doctor must determine whether the disease is independent. It is often the case that cerebral encephalitis in newborns is not immediately distinguished from the common cold, because they have many similar symptoms.
First, the doctor often finds signs of a common acute respiratory infection in a newborn. The main symptoms of encephalitis in the brain at this age include:
- Epidemic encephalitis, which is manifested by squint, drowsiness, apathy.
- Herpetic encephalitis also has its symptoms: epileptic seizures, general infectious symptoms, paralysis and paresis.
Features of treatment
If painful symptoms are found, an ambulance team must be called, the patient will be placed in the infectious disease ward. The outcome of therapy depends on the speed of therapeutic interventions. Often, the patient may need help resuscitator.
Encephalitis therapy includes etiotropic, symptomatic and pathogenetic treatment.
Etiotropic treatment
It will eliminate the causes of inflammation of the brain and remove the infectious agent.
To eliminate the infection can prescribe antibacterial drugs, antiviral agents, injected human immunoglobulin, which is necessary for tick-borne encephalitis. Antibiotics are used for the bacterial nature of the disease - they are administered intravenously. Among the antiviral medications may prescribe Cycloferon, Acyclovir, Proteflazid.
Pathogenetic treatment
It is based on the use of medicines that restore damaged brain structures. The most popular drugs include:
- Hormonal drugs.
- Anti-edema drugs, such as furosemide.
- Antihistamines: Suprastin, Tavegil and so on.
- Infusions that correct the metabolic processes in the body, such as Dextran or Potassium.
- Protectors, for example, Cavinton and Instenon.
- Antihypoxants: Cytochrome or Actovegin.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs include Ksefokam and Nurofen.
Additionally, patients can prescribe vitamin preparations and agents that correct the work of the heart and respiratory organs.
Symptomatic treatment
It will help eliminate the manifestation of individual symptoms that occur due to encephalitis. Specialists may prescribe anticonvulsant, antipyretic, antipsychotic drugs. We also need drugs that activate the neuromuscular system and reduce muscle tone, such as Neuromidin and Sirdalud. However, some drugs can be assigned to a person forever due to the fact that epilepsy attacks last for years.
Additionally, the patient is shown physiotherapeutic procedures, such as massage, acupuncture, exercise therapy, electrical stimulation. Also required to engage with a speech therapist and psychotherapist if necessary.
Prevention and prognosis
Prevention of brain encephalitis is divided into non-specific and specific.
Nonspecific
They carry out sanitary and educational work with the population, explain the causes of development, tell about the first symptoms, what to do if the first signs of the disease appear.
Specific prevention
Aims to vaccinate decreed groups, which, by the nature of their activities, need to be in areas with a high risk of encephalitis.
With a mild course of the disease and timely treatment started, a fairly rapid recovery is observed. If the pathology is of moderate severity, the period of treatment and rehabilitation may last for six months. Complications often occur with the wrong treatment or failure to comply with the regime.
In severe cases, complications can occur, and death is also possible. There are other complications that may occur after the pathology:
- headache;
- nonsystem dizziness;
- meningitis;
- hearing and vision loss;
- termination of the respiratory system;
- urinary incontinence;
- memory loss;
- mental problems.
Brain encephalitis is a serious neurological disease that can result in both a full recovery, and disability, death. Symptoms of the disease depend on the cause of encephalitis, which is often infectious. The treatment requires the simultaneous use of a large number of drugs, and rehabilitation after therapy may be delayed for many years.
