Types of encephalitis in children. Treatment. Viral encephalitis in children Encephalitis virus in children

Encephalitis is a dangerous disease that in isolated cases is fatal. Timely consultation with a doctor and early diagnosis of the disease in infants allows for a quick recovery without the risk of complications.

What types of disease are known to pediatrics? What are the signs of tick-borne encephalitis? What should parents do after a tick bite? How long is the incubation period? How do children who have had the disease fare? Who is at risk of developing late-onset encephalitis?

Encephalitis: what is this disease?

Childhood encephalitis is an acute disease caused by a viral or bacterial infection. The disease affects the substances of the brain, which can result in paralysis or neuropsychiatric disorders. Previously, it was believed that this disease affects adult men who work in the taiga. In recent years, the statistics have changed somewhat; among those infected there are hundreds of small patients.

Prevention of the disease is especially important in the summer - the period when ticks become more active. The peak of infection occurs between May and September. Carriers of the disease can be hares, hedgehogs, squirrels, goats, cows, horses and sheep. Viral and bacterial infections primarily affect the children's body due to the fact that the immune system of children is at the stage of formation.

A child can become infected by a tick bite or by consuming unboiled goat and cow milk (we recommend reading:). Pathogens enter the blood and lymph through the skin and mucous membranes of the esophagus. Pediatrics knows cases when infection occurs through airborne droplets or household contact, for example, when infected with herpes or enterovirus.

Pathogens cause swelling and hemorrhage, disrupt the structure of the nuclei, white and gray matter of the brain. The entry of bacteria can also cause suppuration inside the lining of the brain.

Pathogens can infect the cardiovascular system and other vital organs - the adrenal glands and spleen.

About the classification of encephalitis

Manifestations of encephalitis depend on the subtype of the disease. There are several criteria for classifying a disease, one of the main ones being the cause of its occurrence. According to him, there are three types of encephalitis:

Tick-borne encephalitis: features of the course in children

Tick-borne encephalitis in children is a very dangerous form of the disease. Children aged 7 to 14 years are most often affected by the disease. The main carrier of the infection is the encephalitis tick. It lives in grass and also in bushes, so upon arriving home from the forest, parents should carefully examine the child’s skin.

Unlike females, males do not stay on the body for long. They leave the affected area immediately after the bite, so any unpleasant sensations in a child upon returning home after being in a forest area should be a reason to consult a doctor.

The incubation period, that is, the time from the moment of infection to the appearance of the first signs of the disease, is several weeks. The tick-borne encephalitis virus affects the nervous system, and therefore patients experience neurological manifestations and symptoms of intoxication.

Symptoms

Intoxication is a natural reaction of the body to infection. Symptoms in this category include:

Tick-borne encephalitis is very dangerous due to its neurological manifestations. These include:

• complete or partial loss of consciousness;
• impaired skin sensitivity - hyper- or hyposensitivity;
• convulsions and tremors;
• disorders of the brain - hypertonicity of individual muscles, blurred vision, temporary loss of speech.

Forms

Doctors identify 4 main forms of tick-borne encephalitis. These include:

Other primary encephalitis

Tick-borne encephalitis is not the only type of primary encephalitis. Epidemic, influenza, enterovirus, herpetic encephalitis are also known for their severe course in the children's body.

Epidemic

Epidemic encephalitis is an extremely dangerous form of the disease. Doctors have not yet identified the causative agent of the disease. Infection occurs through airborne droplets, so infected people are carriers of the disease. The first manifestations of viral encephalitis can be confused with symptoms of acute respiratory viral infection or influenza. These include fever, drowsiness, apathy, headache, loss of appetite, and nausea.

Enteroviral

Enteroviral encephalitis in children has clearly defined symptoms. These are nausea, paralysis of the limbs, convulsions, epileptic seizures. The disease mainly affects infants.

Herpetic

The causative agent of the herpetic variety is considered to be the herpes virus type I-II. There are two ways of contracting the disease - airborne and household contact. Children of different age categories are susceptible to the disease. Herpetic encephalitis is especially dangerous for newborns. Pediatrics knows cases of death at this age.

In older children, there is a risk of the disease becoming chronic. Its typical manifestations include convulsions, complete or partial loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, and skin rashes.

Secondary encephalitis

Secondary encephalitis occurs as a complication after severe infectious diseases - measles, rubella, chickenpox, as well as after vaccination against these diseases. The most common secondary encephalitis among children includes:

1. Post-vaccination. The complication occurs most often in school-age children and is accompanied by impaired functionality of the nervous system. The first manifestations of the disease appear after 2-10 days. According to statistics, this complication occurs in 2-3 children out of 10,000 vaccinated children.
2. Chickenpox. The disease appears 3-10 days after the onset of rashes on the body. In addition to the fact that chickenpox encephalitis occurs very rarely, such a complication does not entail life-threatening consequences.
3. Measles. The disease begins with acute manifestations - the occurrence of hallucinations, loss of consciousness, and mental disorders. The causes of the complication lie in allergic intolerance to the neurotoxins of the causative agent of the disease.

Diagnosis of a disease in a child

At the first manifestations of the disease in the baby - fever, convulsions, loss of consciousness, parents should immediately seek qualified medical help. Before prescribing treatment, the doctor must collect the most informative data about the events preceding the disease.

If necessary, the pediatrician can refer the child to undergo diagnostic measures, including:

• virological analysis, which can be used to determine the level of antibodies to the disease;
• MRI or CT scan of the brain to identify inflammatory areas;
• cerebrospinal fluid analysis to study cerebrospinal fluid;
• examination of the tick only at the stage of early diagnosis;
• double serological blood test with an interval of 3-4 weeks, which allows identifying antibodies to infection.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment of encephalitis in children requires complex drug therapy. Its components include the following medicines:

The effectiveness of drug therapy can be increased with the help of physiotherapy, massage, and physical therapy. Patients are recommended to visit sanatoriums and resorts annually.

Complications

Encephalitis is dangerous due to its severe course and serious complications. Some of the unpleasant consequences of the disease include:

• flaccid paralysis of the limbs;
• tremor;
• neurological disorders;
• transition to a chronic form.

Failure to see a doctor in a timely manner can result in very dangerous complications. With swelling of the brain, as well as disruption of the functionality of the respiratory center, death is possible.

Prevention measures

The disease is one of the most dangerous in childhood, so parents need to follow preventive measures and teach their child this in order to protect him from encephalitis. The basic rules include:

1. Safe clothing. When going for a walk in the forest, you need to carefully think through your and your children’s wardrobe. Clothing should cover the skin as much as possible, especially on the legs, arms, shoulders and neck.
2. Anti-tick products. Before traveling out of town, parents should take care of purchasing repellents in advance.
3. Inspection of the skin after walks. In the summer, it is advisable to examine the child upon arrival home from the forest or park.
4. Vaccination. If the baby lives or travels to an area where ticks are more active, he should be vaccinated 2-4 weeks before ticks begin to become active.
5. Immediately consult a doctor at the first symptoms of the disease. If parents notice that a child has been bitten by a tick or his health has sharply worsened after a walk in the forest or suffered from severe infectious diseases, they should immediately seek qualified medical help.
6. Thermal treatment of milk. Goat or cow's milk must be boiled before use.

Encephalitis is common in children and adolescents due to imperfections in the blood-brain barrier. This is the structure of the immune system that does not allow viruses and bacteria into the brain, causing inflammation. When the disease develops, the life and health of the baby is in serious danger, so at the first suspicious symptoms, parents should consult a doctor.

Description of the disease

Encephalitis (encephalopathy) - inflammation of the brain substance. Eighty percent of the sick are children, adolescents and young people under 18 years of age.

The causes of such inflammation are viral or bacterial infections; an infectious-allergic reaction after vaccination is also possible.

Encephalitis: description, causes - video

Classification: primary, acute, infectious, viral, bacterial and other types of disease

The following forms of encephalitis are distinguished:

• primary - neurons (nerve cells) are affected from the first hours of the disease;
• secondary - damage to nerve cells occurs 4–10 days or even 2–3 months after the onset of the underlying disease.

Encephalitis - damage to the brain leading to inflammation

Primary encephalitis, in turn, is divided into:

• viral:
  • epidemic;
  • tick-borne;
  • mosquito;
  • herpetic;
  • enterovirus;
• microbial;
  • staphylococcal;
  • streptococcal;
  • syphilitic;
• rickettsial (typhoid).

Secondary encephalitis develops as a complication of another disease:

• encephalitis after infectious diseases with rash: after measles, chickenpox, rubella;
• post-vaccination (after vaccination against childhood infectious diseases, rabies);
• bacterial (streptococcal, staphylococcal infection, tuberculosis);
• after multiple sclerosis, encephalomyelitis (the sheath of the nerve fiber is gradually destroyed).

Based on the rate of development, the following forms of encephalitis are distinguished:

• fulminant - symptoms develop in 2–3 hours;
• acute - develops within 1–2 days;
• subacute - symptoms gradually increase over 2–3 weeks;
• chronic (residual symptoms after the acute form);
• recurrent (after recovery, symptoms reappear after some time).

According to severity they are distinguished:

• severe encephalitis;
• extremely heavy;
• moderate severity.

Routes of infection

There are the following ways of contracting encephalitis:

• airborne (infection after staying in the same room with a sick person):
  • epidemic encephalitis;
  • herpetic;
  • flu;
• nutritional (through food and water):
  • enterovirus;
  • tick-borne (after drinking goat's milk);
• contact (touching the patient):
  • brucellosis;
  • after tularemia;
• transmissible (after a tick or mosquito bite):
  • tick-borne;
  • mosquito

The virus that causes tick-borne encephalitis dies only after boiling goat milk for twenty minutes.

Provoking factors of encephalitis:

• hypothermia;
• physical and mental trauma;
• weak immunity.

An interesting fact is that the tick-borne encephalitis virus is not permanently present in the tick’s body. Its reservoir is rodents, small animals (badgers, gophers), goats.

Signs of brain damage in newborns, infants and older children

A person with encephalitis does not necessarily have to have all of the following symptoms. Their number and severity depend on the location of the source of inflammation, as well as on its intensity.

Most typical symptoms

• headache (this symptom is constant);
• temperature increase;
• impaired consciousness (from confusion to coma);
• hallucinations (auditory, visual, tactile, gustatory, olfactory);
• dizziness, loss of balance, coordination;
• weakness in the limbs;
• numbness in the arms or legs;
• speech impairment (difficulty pronouncing words or understanding speech);
• involuntary movements in the muscles of the limbs or face;
• oculomotor disorders (drooping of the upper eyelid, double vision, strabismus).

Features of the clinical picture of epidemic encephalitis

Epidemic encephalitis is now rare, but there was an epidemic of the disease in the early twentieth century. The incubation period is 12–20 days. In the acute stage, the patient has severe drowsiness. After 3–4 months, the chronic stage develops: trembling of the hands and head and involuntary movements in the limbs appear. Children are characterized by changes in personality, character, and intelligence.

In children under 5 years of age, the most severe forms of the disease with a coma are diagnosed.

Tick-borne encephalitis in a child

Tick-borne encephalitis occurs in a more severe form in the eastern regions of Russia than in the western regions. The incubation period after a tick bite is 14–20 days.

If infected through goat's milk - 3–7 days. Most of the sick are children and teenagers.

The disease is especially severe in children under one year of age. They affect large areas of the brain, which leads to seizures and paralysis with muscle atrophy. Subsequently, the development of the nervous system is disrupted, which leads to disability.

Despite the fact that tick-borne encephalitis is a severe disease, asymptomatic cases sometimes occur. This type of trend is typical for children whose ancestors lived in taiga regions for several generations. In these cases, innate immunity is probably formed.

Herpetic encephalitis

Herpetic makes up 80% of primary encephalitis. Newborns become infected in utero if the mother has genital herpes. Areas of brain necrosis, cysts and foci of calcification develop.

A child under one year old is not yet able to complain of a headache. Therefore, parents should pay attention to the following alarming symptoms:

• baby rubs his head on the pillow;
• cries;
• refuses food;
• does not take the breast.

The earlier treatment for herpetic encephalitis is started, the more favorable the prognosis.

Enteroviral encephalitis

Enteroviral encephalitis is relatively benign if the child is hospitalized in a timely manner. The incubation period is one week. Vomiting and diarrhea are often associated.

The disease is more severe in children under one year of age. Since intracranial pressure is increased with this pathology, attention is paid to the swelling of the fontanel. Spinal puncture quickly improves the patient's condition.

Secondary encephalitis: rheumatic, post-vaccination

Secondary encephalitis due to infectious diseases (measles, chickenpox, rubella) develops 3–7 days after the appearance of the rash.

Rheumatic encephalitis affects the subcortical nodes of the brain. As a consequence of this, involuntary movements appear in the limbs (large chorea) or facial muscles (minor chorea). The child begins to grimace, grimace, and wink. Such symptoms are characteristic of adolescence.

Post-vaccination encephalitis develops after vaccinations; neurological symptoms appear on days 10–14. It is important to associate these symptoms with vaccination and exclude other pathogens of encephalitis.

Diagnostic methods and differential diagnosis

To diagnose encephalitis, you need to contact a pediatric neurologist. After interviewing the child and his parents (complaints, medical history), the doctor performs a thorough neurological examination of the patient. If symptoms of encephalitis are detected, additional instrumental and laboratory examination methods are prescribed.

1. Electroencephalography shows changes in the electrical activity of the brain. A necessary investigation if a child has seizures.
2. Neurosonography (ultrasound examination of the brain). This is done for children up to one year old, until the fontanelles are overgrown. Informative, reveals changes in brain tissue. The study is prescribed for newborns at the slightest suspicion of a pathological process in the brain.
3. Computed and magnetic resonance imaging. These studies are performed on children after one year of age if they develop neurological symptoms. Allows to differentiate encephalitis from brain tumors, as well as hemorrhage and ischemic stroke.
4. Lumbar puncture if an infectious process in the brain is suspected is a mandatory study. With its help, the causative agent of encephalitis will be identified. This method allows you to differentiate the disease with hemorrhage under the arachnoid membrane of the brain or brain tissue.
5. Clinical blood test. It will show the presence and severity of the infectious process. Helps differentiate viral encephalitis from bacterial encephalitis.
6. Biochemical tests (detect antibodies to the causative agent of encephalitis). It takes a week to get results.

Diagnostic methods - photo gallery

Lumbar puncture will help establish the cause of encephalitis Computed tomography allows you to accurately determine the localization of the pathological focus Neurosonography is indicated for newborns to exclude brain pathology Electroencephalography records increased bioelectrical activity of the brain

Treatment

A prerequisite for complete treatment for encephalitis is hospitalization in the neurological department. In the acute period (from 10 days to a month), strict bed rest is required.

Drug treatment begins with an impact on the cause of the disease:

1. For viral encephalitis, antiviral drugs (Acyclovir, Ganciclovir) are prescribed. They block the DNA of the virus and prevent it from entering the nerve cell. For tick-borne encephalitis, children are given anti-tick human gamma globulin (in the first 3 days), Ribonuclease.
2. Treatment of bacterial encephalitis begins with antibiotics: Penicillin, Levomycetin. These drugs are administered intravenously. The dose is calculated according to the age of the child.
3. In order to reduce intracranial pressure and eliminate cerebral edema, dehydration therapy is prescribed. Magnesium sulfate intramuscularly may be recommended for children.
4. Vitamin therapy involves intramuscular administration of vitamins B1, B6, B12, C.
5. Post-vaccination and other secondary encephalitis are accompanied by an allergic reaction, so it is necessary to prescribe steroid hormones - Dexamethasone, Prednisolone in age-related doses, antiallergic drugs (Diphenhydramine, Tavegil, Suprastin).
6. Neuroprotective drugs improve the functioning of brain cells. Cerebrolysin and Cortexin are suitable for treating children.

Medications - photo gallery

Acyclovir is prescribed for viral encephalitis Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticoid drug Levomycetin is used to treat bacterial encephalitis Ribonuclease is used for tick-borne encephalitis Tavegil eliminates an allergic reaction Cerebrolysin-nootropic drug, improves the functioning of brain cells

Diet

The diet includes foods containing vitamins and microelements, amino acids. The food should be light, mainly dairy and vegetable. The liquid you drink per day should be limited to a liter, since a larger amount will lead to an increase in intracranial pressure.

• egg yolks, liver, veal brains;
• sprouted grains;
• freshly squeezed juices of vegetables and fruits;
• unrefined vegetable oil (olive, flaxseed, corn, sesame);
• fresh herbs;
• fermented milk products: yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese.

Products to be excluded:

• drinks containing caffeine: coffee, black tea, Pepsi and Coca-Cola;
• sweet carbonated drinks;
• hot spices and seasonings;
• fat meat.

Traditional methods of treatment

It is appropriate to talk about such methods when the child has already been discharged from the hospital (that is, the acute period of the disease has passed). Medicinal plants with a sedative effect are indicated that will improve sleep, reduce increased muscle tone, and eliminate irritability:

• motherwort;
• mint;
• hop cones;
• peony;
• valerian;
• cyanosis;
• Melissa.

These products are used in the form of an infusion; alcohol tinctures should not be given to children. It is advisable to take one of the listed plants. The amount of dry raw materials depends on the age of the child:

• from two to 6 years old you need 1 teaspoon;
• from 6 to 12 years - dessert;
• after 12 years - a tablespoon.

For preparation:

1. Brew the herbal part of the plant with 200 ml of boiling water.
2. Leave for 30 minutes.
3. If plant roots are used, they need to be boiled over very low heat for 30 minutes, and then left to cool.
4. Strain the resulting infusion and drink 1/3 glass twice a day, regardless of meals in the afternoon.

After ten days of use, the medicinal raw materials need to be changed. You can follow the following sequence: motherwort, lemon balm, valerian.

Boys and girls under the age of twelve cannot brew hop cones, as they contain phytohormones. Motherwort, in addition to its sedative effect, reduces increased intracranial pressure.

General strengthening fees

Children who have suffered encephalitis need restorative preparations. Taking them will help improve immunity and body tone.

The composition may include:

• echinacea;
• black currant berries and leaves;
• sea ​​buckthorn berries;
• rowan berries;
• oats;
• dried fruits (dried apricots, figs, prunes);
• walnuts.

To prepare a general strengthening collection:

1. Mix in equal proportions flowers and leaves of echinacea, dry berries of rowan, black currant and sea buckthorn.
2. Pour 500 ml of boiling water over two tablespoons of raw material and leave for 1 hour.
3. Drink 1/3 glass 3 times a day 20 minutes before meals.

For a child, it is advisable to take the herbal part of Echinacea, and not its roots. The leaves, stems and flowers of this remedy have a milder effect on the body. Melissa will improve sleep Motherwort will calm nerves and reduce increased intracranial pressure Valerian will help with autonomic disorders

Surgery

Neurosurgical treatment is indicated only in the case of the formation of an abscess (a limited area of ​​accumulation of pus), a focus of softening of the brain, calcification or associated hemorrhage. The neurosurgeon will use a scalpel to remove these formations so that they do not interfere with the normal functioning of the brain. Recently, such operations have been performed under the control of computer monitoring, which makes it possible to avoid damage to healthy areas.

Rehabilitation

For children who have suffered encephalitis, the rehabilitation period is a very responsible and important stage of treatment. In case of motor dysfunction, a course of massage (acupressure will have a good effect) and reflexology is necessary.

Physiotherapeutic procedures will help flabby muscles gain tone and relieve pain. Electrical stimulation of muscles and electrophoresis with medicinal substances have proven themselves well.

Forecast and consequences

The prognosis for encephalitis depends on the causative agent of the infection and the state of the child’s immune system.

1. Enteroviral encephalitis in most cases (about 90%) ends with complete recovery.
2. Lethal outcome with tick-borne encephalitis is observed in 30% of cases, in 50% - persistent residual symptoms are observed (paralysis with muscle atrophy), and convulsive syndrome may remain.
3. Mosquito encephalitis in 50% of cases ends in the death of the patient, and survivors receive permanent disability.
4. Success in curing herpetic encephalitis depends on how early antiherpetic treatment was prescribed.
5. Post-vaccination encephalitis in 90% of cases leaves behind residual effects in the form of paralysis of the legs, violent movements (hyperkinesis).
6. Measles encephalitis ends in recovery in 80% of cases.

Consequences of tick-borne encephalitis - video

Prevention

Specific prevention is the creation of immunity by vaccination. They are vaccinated against mosquito and tick-borne encephalitis.

Vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is required for those living in the taiga regions of Siberia and the Far East (or if traveling to this region is planned). When planning a vacation to the resorts of Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, you should not forget about vaccination against mosquito encephalitis.

It also happens that an unvaccinated child is bitten by a tick. In such a situation, gamma globulin must be administered. This drug will increase immunity and bring the body's defenses to a state of combat readiness. The possibility of developing the disease will decrease. If infection does occur, then tick-borne encephalitis will occur in a milder form.

Individual preventive measures are also used:

• clothes with long sleeves and a hood, trousers, high boots;
• protective ointments, sprays, tick creams;
• a thorough examination of the skin after walks in nature.

To increase general immunity and resistance to diseases, it is necessary to prescribe courses of immunomodulators, vitamin therapy, and carry out hardening procedures.

Encephalitis is a group of severe brain diseases of infectious or infectious-allergic origin, to which children are more susceptible. No one will treat this pathology at home, but parents should know the main symptoms in order to seek help in time. The sooner intensive therapy is started, the greater the chance of saving the child’s life and restoring impaired functions.

Depending on the pathogen that caused the disease, encephalitis in children can be of several types:

Tick-borne and mosquito-borne encephalitis

This is the primary type of encephalitis, which is a fairly common disease among children, especially older ones. It occurs as a result of the bite of ticks, blood-sucking insects or rodents, but can also enter the body through the raw milk of sick cows and goats. Tick-borne encephalitis often occurs in late spring - early summer, when the period of active reproduction of ticks begins. The incubation period of the disease lasts from one to two weeks.

The main symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis in children:

• a sharp and rapid rise in temperature;
• chills;
• nausea, vomit;
• muscle weakness and numbness;
• Strong headache;
• loss of consciousness, coma;
• hyperemia of the skin of the face, neck, chest;
• convulsions.

Tick-borne encephalitis in children is usually treated with human immunoglobulin. Symptomatic therapy may also be prescribed, and in case of respiratory system disorders, the child may be transferred to artificial ventilation. During the rehabilitation period, as a rule, physiotherapeutic procedures, massage, exercise therapy.

Epidemic encephalitis

This is a chronic infection, the causative agent of which has not been clearly identified. In some cases, the virus from the child’s nasopharynx, through saliva and mucus, enters the upper respiratory tract and penetrates the central nervous system. Epidemic encephalitis is more common in children over 10 years of age, but if a child under 5 years of age gets sick, the disease is severe.

The main symptoms of epidemic encephalitis in children:

• temperature increase;
• increased drowsiness and very deep sleep;
• meningeal syndrome(more often in infants);
• mental and intellectual disorders;
• strabismus, ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid);
• muscle tone disorders;
• convulsions (especially in infants);
• facial expression disorders;
• breathing problems;
• dizziness;
• hallucinations (more often in teenagers);
• speech stimulation.

The acute period of epidemic encephalitis lasts from 2 weeks to 2 months. Treatment consists of antiviral and detoxification therapy for the child, exercise therapy.

Enteroviral encephalitis

This is a primary type of disease that does not have a chronic stage in children. The virus can be transmitted by airborne droplets and food.

Symptoms of enteroviral encephalitis in children:

• temperature increase;
• severe headache, often accompanied by vomiting;
• disturbance of consciousness;
• speech impairment (in severe cases);
• damage to the facial nerve;
• epileptic seizures (in young children).

In general, the outcome of the disease is favorable, but in severe cases it can be fatal. To treat the disease, the child is prescribed interferon, and in severe cases, anticonvulsants and corticosteroids.

Herpetic encephalitis

This is the primary form of the disease, occurring in both children and adults, but more often manifests itself in children over 5 years of age. In children, herpetic encephalitis is caused by a herpes virus, usually type 2. It mainly enters the central nervous system from the nasal mucosa. In newborns, the disease is rare and occurs in a very severe form.

Symptoms of herpetic encephalitis in children:

• a sharp increase in temperature;
• lethargy;
• vomit;
• headache;
• epileptic seizures, paralysis (in newborns);
• disturbance of consciousness, coma;
• herpetic sepsis affecting the brain and liver (in newborns);
• meningeal symptoms.

A child who has contracted herpetic encephalitis is hospitalized, often in an intensive care unit or intensive care unit. As a rule, the child is prescribed acyclovir, immunoglobulins and interferons. For bacterial complications, antibiotics are prescribed. During the rehabilitation period, the child is prescribed massage, exercise therapy, and physiotherapy.

Allergic encephalitis

This is a secondary disease that occurs as a result of the introduction of antibodies into the child’s body (vaccination) and causes an allergic reaction in the central nervous system. Mostly in children, the disease manifests itself on days 9–11 after the administration of a vaccine (DPT, measles, rabies vaccinations, rabies, etc.).

Symptoms of allergic encephalitis in children:

• convulsions;
• paralysis;
• hallucinations;
• heat;
• epileptic seizures (especially in young children);
• damage to the nervous system (in school-age children).

Encephalitis caused by DTP vaccination occurs in children, usually in a very severe form, with a high probability of death. With measles post-vaccination encephalitis, a favorable course of the disease is possible, but in some cases the child may experience residual effects and mental disorders. With rabies vaccinations, the disease in children occurs in acute or subacute forms. Paralysis and severe residual effects are possible.

Treatment for allergic encephalitis in children includes antihistamines, desensitizing therapy, and antibiotics. Residual effects are treated according to the rules of rehabilitation therapy.

If you notice any of the listed symptoms in your child, you should immediately seek emergency medical help, because Almost all types of encephalitis in children are treated in a hospital.

At the multidisciplinary medical center "Medicenter" in St. Petersburg, qualified children's specialists who have many years of experience working with children of all ages and are faced in practice with the most severe diseases and ailments receive treatment. The Medicenter has everything necessary to provide assistance to young patients.

It is important to remember that timely contact with a pediatric specialist can save not only the health, but also the life of the child.

It is a misconception to believe that encephalitis is one disease. This disease refers to a whole group of inflammatory diseases of brain tissue, differing in causes, clinical features and forms of progression. Viral and bacterial infections are considered to be the culprits of the disease. The disease can affect adults and children, and in the latter the disease is more severe and with more complications. The reason for this is their weak immunity.

Keeping in mind the nature of the disease, doctors distinguish three forms: acute, subacute, chronic. You can get sick under different circumstances, completely different from each other. Developing encephalitis manifests symptoms in children, and they are expressed differently, and this depends on the causes of the development of the disease. Conventionally, doctors distinguish between primary and secondary diseases.

Primary encephalitis

Diseases belonging to the primary group are characterized by the impact of pathogenic microorganisms directly on brain tissue. Already at the very beginning of development, encephalitis, the characteristic symptoms of which are most pronounced in children, disrupts the functions of the brain. This group includes all types of meningoencephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis, and herpetic encephalitis (it is initiated by the herpes virus). These also include diseases of a natural focal nature, i.e. inherent in a particular area, animals (horses, mice and others) are first infected with them. In diseases of this group, nerve cells are damaged, followed by their death, therefore the disease is characterized by a difficult course, threatening sick children with severe complications.

Secondary encephalitis

It usually develops as a complication after vaccinations, vaccinations, or due to the harmful effects of microorganisms that have changed under the influence of medications or other factors. The brain damage in this case has an allergic basis. Sometimes developing encephalitis does not show noticeable symptoms in children, and the picture of the disease remains blurred. Often develops after vaccinations:

• DPT;
• vaccinia;
• rabies vaccinations.

Secondary encephalitis can also develop against the background of infectious diseases, being their complications:

• measles;
• rubella;
• chicken pox;
• flu

Diseases of this type are milder. This can be explained by the fact that the vessels of the brain are primarily affected, and reversible changes that are dystrophic in nature are noted in the nerve cells.

Symptoms

Encephalitis shows severe symptoms in children, often the same as in adults. The picture of the disease helps to outline the characteristic aspects:

1. Intoxication syndrome. The body reacts to the effects of waste products with fever. Drowsy lethargy, chills, weakness, and aches in all joints are also observed.
2. Brain dysfunction syndrome. It is accompanied by systematic dizziness, vomiting, nausea, headache, and a large fontanelle bulges in infants.
3. Syndrome of impaired consciousness. When encephalitis begins, symptoms in children immediately appear in a wide range - from slight lethargy to falling into complete stupor and coma. Sometimes (especially during recovery from a coma, at the beginning of the disease) febrile excitability appears in the form of delirium, hallucinations, and motor activity.
4. Convulsive syndrome. The root cause of seizures is general or local damage to brain functions.
5. Syndrome of focal disorders. It develops if encephalitis manifests itself; noticeable symptoms in children are expressed in the form of pathologies of motor functions, speech, coordination, and orientation in one’s own body.
6. Usually one of the syndromes predominates, which facilitates diagnosis. At the slightest suspicion of encephalitis, symptoms in children should be observed in a specialized infectious diseases department and a medical institution where there is an intensive care unit.

Disease prevention

There is no special prevention for all types of the disease. However, you can protect your child from mosquito, tick-borne, and epidemic types of encephalitis using nonspecific methods. When going into nature, you should dress appropriately, and it is better to completely avoid visiting epidemic outbreaks. Immediately after symptoms of a tick bite appear, you should immediately contact a doctor. Only urgent hospitalization and a course of treatment will help you heal quickly and completely, and the disease will go away without leaving behind complications. The only adequate treatment method is the administration of special gamma globulin.

In children under five years of age, the disease manifests itself more noticeably, more sharply, and the disease is more acute. However, sometimes in the initial stages, encephalitis symptoms in children do not show symptoms clearly enough and gradually become chronic, and then the treatment course extends for more than one year. In such cases, brain functions are often irreversibly impaired, which affects intelligence, motor abilities, and other functions. The disease is fraught with relapses, and then the disease may return even after a few months. That is why, after treatment, it is still worth closely monitoring the child’s health so as not to miss the symptoms of relapse - this will be the best prevention.

Encephalitis in children is a disease characterized by inflammation of the child’s brain. A disease like encephalitis occurs quite often. The disease affects one of the most important organs - brain. Typically, encephalitis is of an infectious nature, but many cases have been recorded in which the disease developed due to severe brain injuries or under the influence of toxins and allergens on the body. According to WHO data, encephalitis affects adults less often and more often - children.

Types of encephalitis in children

The statement that encephalitis is one of the many types of infectious diseases is not entirely true. By the term encephalitis, doctors mean a number of diseases. There are two types of encephalitis: primary And secondary. Both of these types occur in children.

Primary encephalitis is divided into:

• Mosquito and tick-borne;
• Epidemic;
• Enteroviral;
• Herpetic.

Types of secondary encephalitis:

• Allergic;
• Chickenpox;
• Rubella;
• Measles.

Often, severe brain damage in children is caused by types of primary encephalitis. There is a misconception among parents that the disease is caused by tick or mosquito bites. However, this is not always the case. Not only insects, but also certain types of rodents, such as rats and mice, can pose a serious threat to children's health. Encephalitis can also be caused by unboiled milk (goat's or cow's).

Symptoms of encephalitis in a child

Now let's talk about general symptoms encephalitis. The first reaction of a child’s body to a disease is a very strong intoxication, which manifests itself in severe, almost unbearable headaches, fainting, apathy, and indifference. After a short period of time, the temperature may rise sharply, reaching critical levels - 39-40 degrees. often accompanied by pain that does not bring relief to the patient.

The next type of primary encephalitis is epidemic. Young children very rarely get sick with this type of encephalitis. Most often, the disease affects children and older. The course of the disease is very severe. To the above symptoms are added visual impairment, breathing, and hallucinations.

Another type of primary encephalitis is enteroviral. It proceeds much easier than the first two, and in case of timely diagnosis and proper treatment, the prognosis in most cases is positive. Damage to the facial nerve may be added to the general symptoms already mentioned.

Herpetic encephalitis, in addition to general symptoms, is also characterized by the development of paralysis and sepsis of the brain and liver. Quite often, parents and even some doctors confuse herpetic encephalitis with - brain disease with similar symptoms. This type of encephalitis occurs quite rarely in children. ; however, if this happens, the disease is severe and complex.

Few parents know, but even with vaccinations, no matter what disease, there is a possibility that the child may get encephalitis. Such encephalitis is called allergic, and it is characterized by a strong manifestation of vaccination, affecting the entire nervous system. This type of allergy may not appear immediately, only after 10 days. The symptoms of the disease are similar to the above signs, but there are also cases of epileptic seizures.

Any of these types of encephalitis is dangerous and scary in its own way. Therefore, all parents of young children should take note that the first signs of this disease are a reason to immediately consult a doctor. Encephalitis is usually treated by infectious disease specialists, neurologists and pediatricians.

Possible complications in children after encephalitis

Any disease can cause serious consequences and life-threatening complications. If the encephalitis was mild, then there should be no consequences. On average, the disease lasts 2-3 months and requires rehabilitation therapy, as well as subsequent consultation with a psychologist if the child is older. Treatment for severe encephalitis may take longer
from several months to several years.

Complications after encephalitis in a child may be as follows:

• Meningitis;
• Visual, hearing, memory impairments;
• Speech deterioration;
• Various mental disorders;
• Paralysis of arms and legs .

Treatment of childhood encephalitis

Encephalitis in children is a serious and serious illness that requires qualified medical care, and it should be treated not at home, but exclusively in hospital. After a complete examination of the child and the necessary tests, the doctor prescribes treatment and gives recommendations that must be followed strictly. On the part of the doctor, first of all, an accurate diagnosis is required, because there are many diseases with similar symptoms.


What actions should doctors take in relation to a child with encephalitis? The most correct approach to treatment is comprehensive. This means that the entire body needs to be treated, and not just a specific organ. A sick child in a state of moderate severity is admitted to a ward in the infectious diseases department. If the child’s condition is very serious, he is placed in the intensive care unit. Each individual case of this disease is individual, so an approach to treatment and recovery from illness thought out to the smallest detail is more important than ever.

Treatment of encephalitis in children occurs in two stages. First, they get rid of inflammation of the brain tissue with the help of antibacterial and hormonal therapy, and then all the consequences of the disease are eliminated. Elimination of the consequences consists of restorative therapy, such as gymnastics. If the child is over 12 years old, the attending physician is obliged to refer the patient for consultation with a psychologist.

Parents should understand that even a timely vaccination will not protect your child 100% from encephalitis. Therefore, the only way out is, if possible, to avoid meeting the carrier of the infection. For example, if a family practices frequent trips to nature, then protection against insects should be carefully considered.

Video encephalitis in children

Attention! The use of any medications and dietary supplements, as well as the use of any therapeutic methods, is possible only with the permission of a doctor.