What is the course of the disease of TBE?
After an incubation period of 2 to 30 days, most patients experience flu-like symptoms with mild fever as well as headache and aching limbs. In the majority of patients the disease is then over. In 10 percent of cases, a second phase of the disease occurs after a period without symptoms.
In this phase of the disease, the central nervous system is attacked by the pathogen. High fever and headaches are characteristic. If an inflammation of the brain and spinal meninges (meningoencephalitis) occurs in the course of the disease, numerous neurological deficits such as paralysis and sensitivity disorders can occur. Disturbances of consciousness, which can lead to coma, are also possible. In such a severe course, the patient must be treated in an intensive care unit.
What are the first signs of TBE?
Not every person who has been infected with the TBE virus through a tick bite will also develop the disease. About one third of those infected develop early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE). The first symptoms usually appear after 10 days, but can also develop after 4 weeks.
The first signs of TBE are similar to those of a flu-like infection. Those affected complain of fever as well as headache and aching limbs. Occasionally, gastrointestinal complaints are also reported.
Furthermore, it should be known that some patients experience this first phase completely without symptoms. Normally, the disease is over for most patients. Only in 10 percent of cases does a second phase of the disease occur after a symptom-free interval.
In the second phase of the disease, the virus attacks the central nervous system. The patients suffer from high fever. The further symptoms depend on which parts of the central nervous system are affected by the virus.
Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE) occurs in two phases of the disease (biphasic course).
- After an incubation period (the period between infection and the onset of symptoms) of one to two weeks, rarely longer, about 30% of those infected experience flu-like symptoms with increased body temperature, fatigue, headaches and limb pain, vomiting and dizziness (first phase of the disease). These disappear again after about one week.
- In about 10% of the patients, after a short fever-free interval, in addition to severe headaches and aching limbs and a severe feeling of illness, involvement of the nervous system with neurological symptoms (meningoencephalitis, second phase of the disease) occurs.
This can be limited to the meninges (meningitis), but in 40% of cases the brain is also affected (encephalitis). In addition to the symptoms of meningitis, such as headaches, photophobia, dizziness and neck stiffness, paralysis and clouding of consciousness can then occur. Especially in older patients, the spinal cord may also be involved (myelitis; myelon = spinal cord).
In rare cases, paralysis or headaches may remain for months. Epilepsy can also develop. In most cases, however, even severe disease progressions heal without consequences.
The word encephalitis is composed of the ancient Greek word for brain and the medical ending -itis, which stands for inflammation.
Encephalitis is therefore an inflammation of the brain. In meningoencephalitis, the inflammation affects not only the brain tissue but also the meninges. The disease is characterized by high fever and headache.
In the early stages, encephalitis can therefore easily be confused with a flu-like infection. In the course of the disease, dizziness, nausea and vomiting also occur. In the worst case, disturbances of consciousness occur.
This can lead from drowsiness to coma. Paralysis of the muscles can also occur due to damage to the nerve cells in the brain. If paralysis of the respiratory musculature occurs, the patient must be artificially ventilated.
This is also the case with severe disorders of consciousness. Depending on the severity of the disease, treatment in an intensive care unit may therefore be necessary. The abbreviation FSME stands for early summer meningoencephalitis.
Meningoencephalitis is the medical term for an inflammation of the brain (encephalon) and meninges.In meningitis, only the meninges are affected by the inflammation. The brain tissue itself, i.e. the nerve cells, have so far not been damaged. After an infection with the TBE virus, the virus attacks the central nervous system in the second phase of the disease.
If the disease is restricted to the meninges, it is called meningitis. In the course of the disease, however, meningoencephalitis can develop in full swing, with the inflammation spreading from the meninges to the underlying brain tissue. You can find more information about this under: Meningitis