Inflammation of the meninges symptoms. Inflammation of the meninges, meningitis. Traditional therapy includes

Inflammation meninges and the brain can be formed under the influence of factors such as: bacteria (meningococci, pneumococci), viruses and protozoa. Depending on the factor causing development disease, it can be sudden and very violent (meningococci) or slowly progressing and latent (tuberculosis).

Inflammation of the brain can also be caused non-infectious factors which include: brain tumors, leukemia, lead poisoning, or taking a drug such as methotrexate.

Causes of inflammation of the meninges and brain

Pneumococcus is one...

Among bacteria, most cases of inflammation of the brain were recorded as a result of infection Neisseria meningitidis(diplococcus), Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), Haemophilus influenzae type B, among fungi - Cryptococcus neoformans, Coccidioides immitis.

Neurotropic viruses are the main cause of etiological encephalitis. The most common - vesicular inflammation of the brain - is caused by the herpes virus. Inflammation of the brain can also be caused by some protozoa.

To non-infectious causes inflammation of the meninges and brain include tumors (leukemia, cancer of the lymphatic tissue, brain tumors, brain metastases), sarcoidosis, lead poisoning, and the use of certain medicines such as methotrexate.

Symptoms of inflammation of the meninges and brain

The disease develops very quickly and its first symptom is a headache. In typical cases, in addition to severe headache, nausea and vomiting, fever and chills also occur. The patient has stiff neck muscles and the so-called. Brudzinski's symptoms.

This includes:

cervical symptoms- passive flexion of the head to the chest;
zygomatic symptoms- when pressing on the cheek below the zygomatic arch, the patient's arms reflexively bend in elbow joints and shoulders rise;
pubic symptoms- with pressure on the pubis, the legs bend at the knee and hip joints.

Some patients develop hypersensitivity to stimuli, agitation, disorders, and even loss of consciousness. When it comes to brain damage, seizures appear.

Diagnosis and treatment of inflammation of the meninges

Inflammation of the meninges and brain is only diagnosed when a sample is examined cerebrospinal fluid - that is, it will be found increased content protein and white blood cell count.

Causal treatment is used, which consists in the eradication of the pathogen that caused the disease. Therefore, apply antimicrobials(antibiotics, eg penicillin, aminoglycosides, cephalosporins III generation), anti-tuberculosis and antifungal drugs. When viral infection it is impossible to eliminate the cause, therefore it is assigned symptomatic treatment, and in extremely severe cases, antiviral drugs and interferon.

Vaccines against certain pathogens are also available on the market. causing inflammation meninges. These are drugs against meningococci, Haemophilus influenzae type B and tick-borne meningitis virus. Encephalitis and meningitis are considered as a serious threat to the life of the patient, since even with a mild course they can lead to serious complications.

Encephalitis is a group inflammatory diseases brain substances that are infectious, allergic or toxic in nature. If a patient is diagnosed with a disease, he should be hospitalized immediately. With encephalitis, a person is placed in an infectious or specialized neurological department and prescribed the strictest bed rest and constant surveillance.

What is encephalitis

Encephalitis (Latin encephalitis - inflammation of the brain) is the name of a whole group of inflammatory processes that affect the human brain, appearing against the background of exposure infectious agents and allergic agents, toxic substances.

Changes in nervous tissue with encephalitis, they are quite stereotyped, and only in some cases can signs of a specific disease be detected (rabies, for example). Significance for the body and the consequences of any inflammatory changes of the brain are always serious, so do not once again remind them of their danger.

In the acute stage in the substance of the brain, it causes an inflammatory process, affecting the hypothalamus, basal ganglia, nuclei oculomotor nerves. AT chronic stage a toxic-degenerative process develops, most pronounced in the substantia nigra and the pale ball.

The incubation period for encephalitis ranges from one to two weeks.

In the case of encephalitis of any etiology, it is necessary complex therapy. As a rule, it includes etiotropic treatment (antiviral, antibacterial, antiallergic), dehydration, infusion therapy, anti-inflammatory treatment, vascular and neuroprotective therapy, symptomatic treatment.

Classification

The classification of encephalitis reflects the etiological factors associated with them clinical manifestations and features of the course.

Depending on the presence of inflammation of the meningeal membranes (meninges of the brain), the following forms of encephalitis are distinguished:

isolated - in the clinic there are only symptoms of encephalitis;
meningoencephalitis - in the clinic there are also symptoms of inflammation of the meninges.

By localization:

cortical;
subcortical;
stem;
cerebellar injury.

According to the pace of development and flow:

fast;
acute;
subacute;
chronic;
recurrent.

By severity:

moderate;
heavy;
extremely heavy.

The reasons

Most often, encephalitis is caused by viruses - neuroinfections, sometimes it also occurs as complications of various infectious diseases.

A common cause of progression is a neuroinfection. It is worth noting that the etiology of the disease directly depends on its type. So, the reasons for the progression of viral encephalitis are: the bite of infected insects (usually carriers are mosquitoes or ticks), the penetration of the flu virus, herpes, and rabies into the body.

How the virus enters the human body:

insect bite (hematogenous route);
with direct contact;
alimentary way;
airborne route.

Anyone can develop the disease, but the elderly and children are at risk. most at risk. The disease is also prone to those whose immune systems are suppressed or weakened by some kind of treatment, such as cancer treatment, HIV infection, or long-term use steroids.

Symptoms of encephalitis

The disease usually begins with fever and headache, then the symptoms increase rapidly and worsen - there are convulsions (fits), confusion and loss of consciousness, drowsiness and even coma. Encephalitis can be a serious threat to life.

Symptoms of encephalitis depend on many factors: the causative agent of the disease, its pathology, course and localization.

The disease in many situations is manifested by aches, as well as pain. At the same time, these unpleasant symptoms affect the whole body: joints, muscles.

However, there are common symptoms for all types of encephalitis:

headache - it is most often expressed in all areas of the head (diffuse), it can be pressing, arching;
nausea and vomiting that does not bring relief;
torticollis, tremor, convulsive seizures;
The main symptom of encephalitis is a sharp jump in temperature to high values(39–40°С);
oculomotor disorders: ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid), diplopia (double vision), ophthalmoplegia (lack of eyeball movements);
Rarely possible defeat facial nerve with the development of paresis of mimic muscles, trigeminal nerve with pain in the face, single convulsions are possible.

Depending on the type of pathogen, the time interval between infection and the manifestation of the first symptoms lasts from 7 to 20 days. AT latent period the infection does not give itself away in any way, it is possible to detect the presence of the pathogen only in laboratory conditions.

Other possible signs of encephalitis:

increased muscle tone;
involuntary movements (hyperkinesis);
strabismus, violation of the movements of the eyeballs (ophthalmoparesis);
diplopia (double vision);
ptosis (drooping) of the upper eyelid;

Another feature This is muscle twitching in humans. These twitches are made involuntarily. It is important to note that sometimes a person is concerned about numbness of the skin, which manifests itself in different parts body.

Types of encephalitis

Despite all the variety of causes and types, its manifestations are rather stereotypical in severe course diseases, but if inflammation of the nervous tissue accompanies other ailments, then it is not so easy to recognize encephalitis as such.

Epidemic encephalitis Economo(lethargic encephalitis A)

The causative agent is a filterable virus, which has not been isolated to date. This type of virus is transmitted by airborne droplets.

Signs of developing epidemic encephalitis:

temperature rise to 38-39 degrees;
chills;
increased drowsiness;
fatigue;
lack of appetite;
headache.

AT this case needed urgent hospitalization. The exact duration is not known. incubation period therefore, all those who have been in contact with a sick person should be monitored for three months.

Tick-borne encephalitis

herpetic

Herpetic encephalitis is caused by a virus herpes simplex. Cortex and white matter affected big brain. There is a necrotic process (focal or widespread).

Polyseasonal

Polyseasonal encephalitis, as a rule, is also caused by ECHO. The disease can develop at any time of the year, manifested by headache, moderate fever, paresis may develop for a short time (motor function of individual muscles is partially impaired).

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmic encephalitis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with AIDS. The gates of infection are more often the digestive organs, although there are cases of intralaboratory infections with highly virulent strains of Toxoplasma when the skin is damaged (with a pipette or syringe with Toxoplasma culture). To frequent signs include: chills, fever, headache, seizures, depression, and neurological disorders.

Japanese (encephalitis B)

This type of encephalitis is especially common in Asian countries. The reservoir and source of infection are wild and domestic animals, birds, rodents. Animals carry the infection in a latent form with rapid elimination of the pathogen from the blood. A sick person in the presence of carriers can also be a source of infection.

In general, Japanese encephalitis is diagnosed very rarely, there have never been epidemics. The onset of the disease is characterized fever body, headaches and chills.

Complications and consequences for a person

The consequences of the transferred encephalitis are very severe - the inflammatory process concerns the central nervous system, which can lead to disability of the patient.

The main complications of encephalitis:

cerebral edema;
cerebral coma;
development of epilepsy;
lifelong carrier of the virus;
impaired vision, speech, hearing;
memory impairment;
flaccid paralysis;
cystosis;
mental disorders;
risk of death.

Encephalitis is fraught with danger in relation to full life patient, it can cause not only disability, but also death of the patient.

Diagnostics

For the diagnosis of encephalitis is carried out spinal tap. To clarify the diagnosis and differential diagnosis examine the fundus, conduct electroencephalography, echoencephalography, tomography, etc. When making a diagnosis, the patient must be hospitalized in the infectious or neurological department.

Also needed:

general and biochemical analyzes blood tests, urine tests,
blood culture for sterility,
puncture to obtain cerebrospinal fluid,
conducting REG or EEG, examination of the fundus,
CT or MRI,
if necessary, a biopsy is performed.

Treatment of encephalitis

Diagnosis and treatment of the disease in children and adults is carried out by an infectious disease doctor. If the diagnosis has been confirmed, then the patient is immediately placed in a hospital, in the infectious diseases department. Strict bed rest is shown. The patient's condition is constantly monitored.

In the treatment of encephalitis, specialists may be faced with the need to restore proper metabolism within the brain. To do this, prescribe the use of special vitamins, piracetam or polypeptides. Among anti-inflammatory drugs, salicylates and ibuprofen are often prescribed.

Symptomatic therapy:

Antipyretic drugs
Anti-inflammatory (glucocorticoids)
Anticonvulsant therapy (benzonal, difenin, finlepsin)
Detoxification therapy ( saline solutions, protein preparations, plasma substitutes)
Resuscitation measures (ventilator, cardiotropic drugs)
Secondary warning bacterial complications(antibiotics a wide range actions)

Recovery normal functioning nervous system and rehabilitation of consciousness are prescribed all kinds of biostimulants, antidepressants or tranquilizers.

If the disease leads to respiratory function, then carry out artificial ventilation lungs. In addition, appointed anticonvulsants and analgesics.

Vaccines are the most effective method reducing the risk of developing the disease. Wherein we are talking not only about vaccinations tick-borne encephalitis, but also about the prevention of pathologies such as measles, etc.

Therefore, do not neglect vaccination (vaccination) against certain types of encephalitis when traveling to areas with disadvantaged in relation to this disease environment.

All encephalitis are treated in infectious diseases hospitals. In the chronic stage, it is required to regularly visit a neurologist, as well as take courses of medications aimed at improving brain activity, restoring atactic and motor defects.

Prevention

Preventive measures taken to prevent different types encephalitis, differ and are represented by the following activities:

Preventive measures that can, if possible, prevent infection with tick-borne and mosquito encephalitis are preventive vaccination people living and/or working in areas possible infection. Standard vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis includes 3 vaccinations and gives stable immunity for 3 years.
Prevention of secondary encephalitis involves timely diagnosis and adequate therapy infectious diseases.
Restriction of tourist trips to countries where infection with viral encephalitis is possible through mosquito bites.

Inflammation of the membranes of the brain (Meningocephalitis) occurs in all animal species, dogs and horses are more often ill. In animals, in most cases, meningitis is accompanied by simultaneous inflammation of the dura mater (Pachymeningitis), soft (Leptomeningitis) and arachnoid (Arachnoiditis) and is acute. The division of inflammation of the brain and its membranes is very conditional, since a common lesion usually develops with a predominant localization in one or another department - meningoencephalitis (Meningoencephalitis).

Etiology. The main cause of meningoencephalitis is infection. Highest value animals have viral encephalomyelitis caused by neurotropic viruses ( , ) or pantrotropic viruses ( , ). Meningoencephalitis in animals can develop with and bacterial infections( , and , ). Meningoencephalitis can develop as secondary disease with penetrating injuries of the skull, during the transition inflammatory process from closely spaced tissues frontal sinuses, middle ear, eye, ethmoid bone), with osteomyelitis, surgical sepsis, endometritis, endocarditis and purulent-necrotic processes. Contributes to the occurrence of meningitis bruises and concussions of the brain, allergic condition due to colds and intoxications, weakening of the general resistance of the body as a result of overheating, overwork, long-term transportation of the animal and vitamin and mineral starvation.

Pathogenesis. With meningoencephalitis bacterial etiology the infectious agent enters the meninges and the brain by the lymphogenous or hematogenous route, with cerebrospinal fluid from the subdural or subarachnoid spaces. Neurotropic viruses enter the central nervous system along neural pathways. Reproduction of the pathogen that has entered the brain is accompanied by inflammatory dystrophic processes in the endothelium of capillaries, destructive processes in nerve cells. In most animals, the inflammatory process begins in the membranes of the brain and passes to the substance of the brain. The main form of the tissue reaction of the central nervous system during inflammation is arterial hyperemia with perivascular infiltration limited to the mesenchyme around the vessels or extended to the surrounding perenchyma. As a result of malnutrition in nerve cells develop dystrophic changes up to necrosis.

Hyperemia cerebral vessels, exudation, obstructed outflow of lymph in the animal leads to an increase intracranial pressure, disorder of brain functions and the occurrence of cerebral phenomena. From where the localization of the inflammatory process will occur, a sick animal has a variety of focal symptoms.

Clinical picture. Clinically, meningitis manifests itself extremely diversely, depending on the location of the inflammatory process and the degree of damage to the meninges.

In a typical case acute course meningitis, the disease begins with a rapid increase in the complex of symptoms of a disorder of the central nervous system ( meningeal syndrome): lethargy, depression, limited mobility of the eyeballs, "missing look" of the animal. The gait becomes unsteady; when walking, the sick animal raises its limbs high, stumbles. Reflexes slow down and disappear.

Then the animal has a fit of excitement, reaching a rampage in which the animal seeks to free itself from the leash, rushes forward, rushes from side to side, performs arena movements, hits the surrounding objects, looks around with concern, trembles, snorts, lows. The breath of the animal becomes sniffling, salivation appears, convulsive contractions of the muscles. With convulsive contractions of the masticatory muscles, the flowing saliva is churned into foam. Periods of excitement, which in the animal usually last a few minutes and rarely up to an hour, are replaced by a sharp depression: the sick animal is unable to stand on its feet, falls, rises with difficulty. Having risen from the floor, the sick animal stands indifferently, with its head bowed low.

At focal lesion the animal's brain trembles eyeball(nystagmus), uneven expansion pupil (anisocoria), strabismus, convulsive contractions of the muscles of the lips, ears, turning into paralysis of the muscles of the face, eyelids, tongue and throat.

Periods of depression alternate with excitation until the animal enters a coma.

The body temperature in sick animals is increased, during the course of the disease it fluctuates. During the period of excitation, the frequency of the pulse and respiration in a sick animal increases, and during the period of oppression it slows down. There is no chewing gum, we register hypotension of the scar (contractions of the scar are sharply weakened), intestinal motility is slow and weakened, the abdominal walls are tense during palpation.

Meningoencephalitis in animals is acute (2-3 days), with a disease in an animal, complications may occur (aspiration and hypostatic pneumonia).

Rarely in animals chronic course a disease in which general brain phenomena are expressed to a lesser extent. Focal symptoms meningoencephalitis in an animal is manifested by strabismus, blindness, deviation of the head to the side, convulsions and paresis.

Pathological changes. At autopsy of dead animals, we note hyperemia and swelling of the meninges, sometimes with hemorrhages. The cerebral ventricles and subarachnoid space are filled with liquor, with purulent meningitis found in the subdural and sudbarachnoid spaces purulent exudate. With purulent encephalitis in the substance of the brain, we find scattered abscesses of various sizes. In encephalitis caused by neurotropic viruses, changes in the form of non-purulent encephalitis of the lymphocytic type are localized mainly in the gray matter of the brain. At histological examination in the membranes of the brain find rejection of the endothelium blood vessels and perivascular infiltrates of cells of the lymphoid or histiocytic type.

Forecast unfavorable in most cases. Recovered animals have paresis, paralysis or epileptiform convulsions.

Diagnosis is put on the basis of anamnesis and a characteristic clinical picture (disorder of the function of the cortex and subcortical centers). In the cerebrospinal fluid, an increased content of protein is found with a predominance of the globulin fraction and a large number of cellular elements. For early and objective diagnosis of meningitis, the Friedmann reaction is used: 0.05 ml (one drop) of a 1% solution of potassium permanganate is added to 1 ml of cerebrospinal fluid obtained by cervical puncture. With meningitis, the violet color of the cerebrospinal fluid turns into red or red-brown, and with purulent meningitis, adding 2-3 drops of a 20% solution of trichloroacetic acid precipitates.

Differential Diagnosis. When conducting differential diagnosis, it is first necessary to exclude infectious diseases -,. From non-communicable diseases, we exclude uremia, mycotoxicoses, sharp shape and sheep, and poisoning.

Treatment sick animals is ineffective and justified only for valuable animals. A sick animal is isolated in spacious stalls, with abundant bedding. To prevent the possibility of injury, the walls are lined with straw mats. Owners of a sick animal and service staff noise and bright light should be avoided. Medical treatment should be comprehensive, taking into account specific etiological factor that caused the disease. With purulent meningoencephalitis, antibiotics are used, including modern cephalosporins. With non-purulent and viral meningoencephalitis carry out a course of treatment intravenous injections urotropin and glucose. To reduce intracranial pressure, an atlantoepistrophic or suboccipital puncture is indicated. At severe symptoms excitations are prescribed sedatives: chloral hydrate (in enemas and intravenously), bromides, chlorpromazine, medinal, veronal, seduxin.

In all cases, desensitizing agents are used (diphenhydramine, pipolfen, suprastin, calcium chloride).

To reduce intracranial pressure, diuretics are used (beckons, furosemide, diacarb).

To combat acidosis, a 4-5% solution of sodium bicarbonate is administered intravenously, 400-800 ml to large animals. In order to remove the detoxification of the body intravenously, hemodez, reopoliglyukin are dripped.

In all forms of the disease parenterally administered vitamin preparations: B1, B6, B12, ascorbic acid. With indications - cardiac, with respiratory failure - cytiton, lobelin. To improve nutrition nerve cells small animals are given lecithin. To accelerate the resorption of inflammatory foci, apply iodine preparations: potassium or sodium iodide, bioquinol, sayodin.

Sick animals are fed with crushed, better semi-liquid food, watering is not limited.

Prevention meningoencephalitis is based on timely and scheduled diagnostic studies(tuberculinization, etc.) and antiepizootic preventive measures(vaccination, quarantine, etc.), radical treatment of animals with various purulent processes, especially in the head area. Great importance in prevention, it has an increase in the resistance of the body, a full and balanced diet, the prevention of vitamin and mineral starvation and the elimination of factors that contribute to the onset of the disease (colds, overwork, etc.).

08.09.2013

Inflammation of the brain or encephalitis can be infectious, allergic, infectious-allergic, toxic. Often develops as independent disease or is a complication of a previously transferred pathology. Accordingly, primary and secondary inflammation of the brain is distinguished.

The causative agents of primary encephalitis are most often viruses that penetrate the blood-brain barrier to the medulla; protozoa, bacteria and other microorganisms can also play this role.

Encephalitis can affect the gray matter, then they talk about polioencephalitis, or affect predominantly the white matter of the brain - leukoencephalitis.

Causes of brain inflammation

Most often, brain inflammation is provoked by various viruses that penetrate the brain tissue by the hematogenous route, that is, through the systemic circulation. In the human body, pathogens enter the airborne, contact or alimentary route from a person or animal, infection is also possible with a bite blood-sucking insects. This happens, for example, in the case of tick-borne encephalitis. Other most common causes of primary and secondary encephalitis include:

allergic or autoallergic reaction;

hemorrhage in the brain tissue;

herpetic infection with damage to the ganglia of the cranial nerves;

flu;

dysentery;

malaria;

chicken pox;

rubella;

rheumatism;

tuberculosis;

syphilis;

vaccination against rabies or tick-borne encephalitis;

rheumatism;

craniocerebral injury, accompanied by damage to the substance of the brain.

Pathological changes in the medulla during inflammatory processes are not specific and can occur in other diseases of the nervous system. They arise as a response of the brain tissue to a damaging object, regardless of its origin. What matters is that the state immune system sick person determines the variability of the response. Edema, proliferation of microglia, degeneration of nerve cells and fibers may occur in acute period illness. In the chronic stage appear mainly degenerative changes tissues, nodules or scars are formed.

Symptomsinflammation of the brain

Clinical symptoms indicating inflammation of the brain are quite diverse. They depend on the cause of encephalitis, the stage of the disease, the location of the focus of inflammation. There are several stages of the course of the disease with corresponding symptoms.

Primary symptoms are common to all infectious diseases. Lasts from several hours to several days heat, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, intestinal disorders.

Stage of cerebral symptoms: pain in the forehead, photophobia, lethargy, drowsiness and other signs of impaired consciousness, psychosensory disorders and increased excitability are likely.

Focal symptoms of disruption of the central nervous system, which allow you to recognize the form and localization of the inflammatory process. These include paresis of the limbs, aphasia or epileptic seizures.

However, apart from characteristic symptoms encephalitis, cases of the course of the disease in asymptomatic, abortive or fulminant forms are known. They have their own specific clinical manifestations. So, for example, when abortive form disease, there are no neurological signs, symptoms of an acute gastrointestinal or respiratory infection are characteristic. The lightning-fast form often ends lethally.

Treatment

Inflammation of the brain enough serious illness so the prognosis is not always good. It is essential to provide timely and effective medical care. Treatment is pathogenetic, etiotropic and symptomatic, additional restorative procedures are applied.

Pathogenetic therapy consists of measures to combat dehydration and edema, desensitization, hormone therapy, which has an anti-inflammatory and protective orientation, stabilizationblood supply to the brain , support of water and electrolyte balance, the introduction of antihypoxants and angioprotectors and other procedures aimed at stabilizing brain metabolism.

Etiotropic treatment consists in the use antiviral agents, for example, nuclease, which blocks the reproduction of the virus, or interferon. In cases of impaired consciousness or convulsions, mannitol is prescribed, anticonvulsants. Transfusion of intravenous immunoglobulins is acceptable.

Symptomatic therapy has several directions. The main goal is to lower the temperature, normalize the psyche, relieve epileptic seizures, establish an optimal sleep and wakefulness regimen.

Recovery measures include the treatment of parkinsonism, hyperkinesis, epilepsy, paresis, neuroendocrine disorders.

Encephalitis is a group of diseases that are characterized by inflammation of the tissues and cortex of the brain. Despite the cause and causative agent of the disease, in this disease there are common mechanisms for the course of the disease, which preserves the typical clinical picture. Prolonged inflammation of the brain entails consequences, including: hearing loss, cognitive depletion, chronic pain syndrome head, coma, premature dementia.

Classification

There are several classifications of encephalitis.

By predominant lesion fabrics:

leukoencephalitis - inflammation white matter brain;
polioencephalitis - inflammation of the gray matter;
panencephalitis - inflammation of all layers and pathways.

By localization:

inflammation of the hemispheres;
brain stem;
cerebellum;
intermediate part of the brain;
midbrain.

The reasons

This disease of the cerebral cortex is mainly caused by neuroinfections. For reasons, encephalitis is divided into primary and secondary. The primary ones are specific inflammation brain, which is caused by the direct action of the infection on the nervous tissue.

Symptoms

The signs of the disease should be seen through every disease that is accompanied by inflammation of the cortex.

Two weeks after the tick bite, the first symptoms of inflammation of the cerebral cortex appear. However, signs of the disease appear only in 2% of all infections.

Encephalitis begins with an acute fever and general intoxication organism. The fever reaches 39C. The first symptoms: severe headache, dizziness, apathy, weakness, vomiting and nausea, sleep disturbance. On the skin of the face, on the eyes and on the neck, there is a protrusion of blood vessels.

There are several forms of tick inflammation:

Meningeal. It is manifested by intoxication of the body and spasm of the occipital muscles. In addition to the main disease, inflammation of the meninges is added - meningitis.
Mengingoencephalic. Patients are lethargic, sleepy, apathetic, inhibited. They complain of severe headaches, nausea and vomiting. At protracted course auditory and visual hallucinations often delusional disorders. Patients participate in their hallucinations, behavior is determined by their content. Convulsions and loss of consciousness are also observed.
Polyencephalomyelitic. Characteristic specific symptoms: drooping head, drooping shoulders. Eye muscles twitch. In the clinic, there is a weakening of the muscles of the hands or their complete paralysis.

Tick-borne encephalitis is also accompanied by vasculitis. Symptoms of inflammation of the cerebral vessels: intense headaches, sudden loss of neurological functions (loss of sensation, paralysis).

Symptoms of intoxication quickly increase. Patients complain of fatigue, sleep disturbance and decreased mental abilities. Visual acuity decreases, sometimes double vision, speech is upset. Patients lose the ability to completely control urination.

On the first or second day, the body temperature rises to 39-40C. There is fever, severe headache, malaise, irritability and weakness. Patients indicate muscle pain, strong heartbeat and quickening of breathing. In advanced forms, coma develops.

In the clinic of Japanese encephalitis, convulsions, disorders of the oculomotor nerves, loss of sensitivity of half of the body are observed.

Encephalitis lethargica (sleeping sickness)

Inflammation of the cortex grows sharply. In the first days, the body temperature rises to 39C, there are pains in the head and throat. There is diplopia, fatigue, apathy, drowsiness, irritability. Sleep inversion occurs. What it is? A sleep inversion is a disruption in the cycle in which a person begins to sleep during the day and stay awake at night.

At severe forms akinetic mutism is observed - a condition in which the patient cannot move and speak, but he retains the physical ability to these actions.

Patients complain of pain in the muscles, eyes, hand trembling. Psychosis and delusional disorders are observed. Clasomania is an involuntary cry.

Most characteristic symptom- Constantly increased drowsiness and impaired eye movements. In a state of illness, the patient can fall asleep in any position.

3-4 days after the herpetic rash, the first signs of inflammation of the cortex appear. The temperature usually does not reach high figures and remains within 37-38C. However, sometimes the temperature sometimes suddenly rises to 40.

Consciousness is disturbed, patients are disoriented, stunned. In severe inflammation, consciousness is upset, patients are excited. Often there are hallucinations. AT clinical picture convulsions, coma, weakening are also observed muscle strength and paralysis, loss of coordination of movements.

Encephalitis in smallpox

It develops 5-7 days after infection. First of all, body temperature rises and hyperthermia - overheating of the body due to breakdown

thermoregulation center. Among the symptoms: convulsions, headaches, dizziness, impaired walking, accuracy of movements, disorder of the oculomotor muscles.

Encephalitis with influenza nature

Clinical picture: pronounced intoxication syndrome. Fatigue, headaches, sleep disturbance, chills, pain when moving the eyes, pain in the muscles of the back and arms. Convulsions and epileptic seizures are rarely observed. Even less often - paralysis of the muscles of the legs and arms.

Rasmussen's encephalitis

Muscle tone increases, epileptic seizures appear, muscle activity on one side of the body is disrupted. Speech is upset, in severe forms, the outcome of the disease can be premature dementia. This encephalitis is also accompanied intoxication syndrome: nausea, headache, sensitivity to light, impaired consciousness and lack of appetite.

Diagnosis and treatment

To confirm the diagnosis, the following studies are carried out:

Puncture spinal cord followed by examination of the cerebrospinal fluid. The study of cerebrospinal cerebrospinal fluid allows you to evaluate signs of inflammation of the brain.
Magnetic resonance imaging. Imaging techniques allow us to examine the foci of inflammation in the cerebral cortex.

Therapy aimed at eliminating the cause: antiviral and antibacterial drugs.
Replenishment of the body with fluid (rehydration): solutions of Hexenal, Chloral hydrate.
Symptomatic treatment: anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic drugs (paracetamol, ibuprofen, nimesulide).
Correction of water and electrolyte balance: glucocorticoid agents, sodium oxybutyrate.
Correction of mental arousal: antipsychotics(chlorpromazine, haloperidol, rispolept).