Rospotrebnadzor told Novgorod residents what symptoms could indicate encephalitis and borreliosis

While outdoor recreation and dacha chores take up a significant part of the summer time of Novgorodians, the dangers that lie in wait for city dwellers in the grass are also not asleep. And if anti-tick treatment is regularly carried out in parks and squares, then it is not worth excluding encounters with carriers of dangerous infections in other places. This season, 7 cases of systemic tick-borne borreliosis and 1 case of tick-borne viral encephalitis have already been registered in the Novgorod Region. The regional department of Rospotrebnadzor explains which symptoms after contact with dangerous insects should be alarming.

"The most dangerous disease is tick-borne viral encephalitis - an infectious disease that primarily affects the central nervous system. Severe forms of the disease can lead to death and permanent disability. Fatal outcomes can be prevented, but late seeking help from specialists is fraught with the development of complications, and the lack of vaccination in the anamnesis often becomes the cause of death from tick-borne viral encephalitis," the experts report.

The main mechanism of infection is the bite of an infected tick. However, there are also known cases of transmission of the virus through the consumption of fresh milk. In addition, it is unsafe to crush a tick with your hands - this way the virus can easily get on the mucous membranes, through which absorption and spread through the bloodstream occurs faster.

It is important to know how long the symptoms appear and what they are. From the moment the tick attaches to the first symptoms of encephalitis, it can take from 1 to 2 weeks, while the incubation period (depending on the state of the immune system of a particular person) can last from one day to a month.

"As a rule, the disease begins to manifest itself acutely. The clinical picture: from mild meningitis to severe meningoencephalitis with or without paralysis. The patient complains of severe headache, chills, fever with a body temperature of up to 38-39 degrees. There are also muscle pains, redness of the face and body, nausea and vomiting," the department's employees describe the symptoms.

The clinical course and outcome of the disease vary depending on the subtype of tick-borne encephalitis virus. The patient's age also plays a significant role - the older the person, the more severe the disease.

The most effective measure for preventing tick-borne encephalitis is vaccination. It is recommended for residents of endemic areas and people planning trips to these areas.

In addition to tick-borne viral encephalitis, ticks can carry infections such as systemic tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease), monocytic ehrlichiosis and human granulocytic anaplasmosis.

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne infectious disease. The disease affects the skin, joints, nervous and cardiovascular systems. It often takes a chronic, relapsing course.

The first symptoms of borreliosis may appear after 2–30 days, most often complaints appear after 2 weeks. The main symptoms are: a sharp increase in body temperature, muscle and joint aches, weakness, photophobia, nausea, vomiting, cough.

At the site of the tick bite, you can notice redness in the form of a spot of a round or oval shape, it is intensely colored and slightly raised at the periphery. Gradually, the bite site increases in size, sometimes quite significantly. Over time, the middle part of the spot becomes pale, forming the shape of a light ring.

"With adequate and timely therapy, the duration of the disease ranges from three days to a month and ends with complete recovery. In an unfavorable course, the pathogen spreads to various organs and tissues, which can lead to the development of meningitis, meningoencephalitis, pericarditis, myocarditis, chronic Lyme arthritis and atrophic acrodermatitis," the experts reveal the consequences.

Late diagnostics can be dangerous here too. Therefore, it is better not to delay contacting the laboratory and doctors. An incomplete course of treatment of the disease can lead to a chronic form, which is already fraught with disability: persistent paresis (paralysis), sensory disturbances, facial deformation, hearing and vision impairment, joint deformation and dysfunction, heart failure, arrhythmia.

Human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) is another danger that a small insect can pose. The incubation period lasts from one day to three weeks, and the clinically expressed disease lasts on average 2-3 weeks. Clinical manifestations are varied: from asymptomatic to pronounced, with a severe, life-threatening course. Common symptoms of ehrlichiosis include sudden fever, chills, skin rash, redness of the eyeballs, fatigue, headache, myalgia, anorexia, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing (shortness of breath, dyspnea).

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) progresses in different ways. The incubation period is 14 days, but can be shortened to three days or, on the contrary, extended to three weeks. In most cases, HGA occurs in a mild form, many patients endure it "on their feet", taking it for a common acute respiratory infection or intestinal infection. Only 1-3% of infected people have a severe course of anaplasmosis with the development of meningoencephalitis, severe kidney damage. Usually, people with extremely weakened immunity are susceptible to this.

"There are no specific vaccines for the prevention of Lyme disease, MEC and HAC, so the main focus should be on non-specific disease prevention: individual protection against tick bites: wear special clothing, periodically inspect yourself or loved ones with whom you spend time, use repellents. But the main thing is to promptly seek medical help in the event of a tick bite," Rospotrebnadzor reminds Novgorod residents.

It is also worth remembering the basic rules:

when going for a walk, a hike, to the country or to a wooded area, wear breathable clothes of a neutral color (preferably beige or light gray). Prefer long-sleeved shirts and trousers, and your head should be covered with a hat;

• use special anti-tick aerosols according to the instructions;
• When hiking in wooded areas, you should move along paths and avoid tall grass and bushes;
• use a tarpaulin while sitting on the ground.

If an insect has nevertheless attached itself, or has simply been found on the body, it would be a good idea to check whether this random "fellow traveler" is infectious. Read here about where to hand in a tick found on yourself.