All Posts Tagged With: "tick-borne encephalitis"

Excerpt:

Among the 20 tick species described in Switzerland, Ixodes ricinus, the most
frequent one, is implicated in the transmission of pathogenic agents. Lyme
borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are the major tick-borne
diseases transmitted to human. 
**Presently 5 Borrelia species, belonging to the group Borrelia burgdorferi,
are recognized as human pathogens**. 
The risks of infection depend on the stage of the vector, the multiple
hosts, the pathogenic agent, as well as human behavior in nature. 
The detection of other pathogenic agents in ticks: Anaplasma, Babesia and
Rickettsia predispose to infections or co-infections. Results of
sero-epidemiologic studies suggest human infections. Active surveillance by
physicians is necessary and clinical studies are required to evaluate the
importance of these infections in Switzerland.

Full article: https://www.thieme-connect.com/ejournals/abstract/neuropediatrics/doi/10.1055/s-2004-819478

Excerpt:

Case report: A 6-week-old girl developed fever, irritability, meningeal signs with bulging fontanelle and a partial, secondary-generalized seizure. CSF yielded pleocytosis (172 lymphocytes, 81 mono-cytes/ul) and elevated protein (0,83g/l), cranial MRI showed encephalitic signs in both frontal and parietal lobes. Because of a tick bite in an endemic area 10 days before admission, ELISA-IgG and IgM to TBE-virus were sought and found in serum, whereas Borrelia burgdorferi serology, Herpes-simplex virus PCR and bacterial CSF-culture were negative. Phenobarbitone was administered because of repetitive seizures, while the EEG showed series of sharp waves in the right parieto-temporal region. She consecutively became seizure free. At first follow-up after 6 weeks she demonstrated pathologic neurological signs with increased muscular tone, hyperreflexia, fidgety movements, and EEG showed slow waves in the right parieto-temporal region.

Increased tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases have been reported in central Europe. To investigate temporal trends in the altitude at which TBE cases occur in Slovakia, we analyzed the number of TBE cases during 1961–2004. Since 1980, TBE cases moved from lowlands to submountainous areas, most likely because of rising temperature.

If the observed trend continues, the number of TBE foci in the mountain areas >500 m will probably increase in future decades. Whether this would affect the total number of TBE cases is a matter for discussion. Higher areas are less densely inhabited by local residents but often visited for leisure activities and recreation. The possibility of TBE emergence should be therefore considered by the management of recreation facilities and tourist resorts in areas with habitats suitable for TBE vectors

Tick-borne encephalitis is an infection of the CNS caused by a tick-borne
encephalitis virus transmitted by ticks. It is more common in adults than in
children. During the last 30 years, the incidence of the disease increased
continuously in almost all endemic European countries except Austria. Many
factors are responsible for the increased incidence. However, in Austria, the
incidence of tick-borne encephalitis decreased dramatically since the
introduction of a well-organized vaccination campaign against tick-borne
encephalitis. The diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis is based on clinical
criteria and laboratory confirmation of infection. Other tick-borne diseases,
such as Lyme borreliosis and human granulocytic anaplasmosis, should be
considered in children with tick-borne encephalitis since endemic areas for all
three diseases overlap. Continued

Journal    European Journal of Pediatrics

Patrick Michael Meyer1 Contact Information, Hanspeter Zimmermann2 and Philippe Goetschel1

Received: 9 August 2009  Accepted: 12 October 2009  Published online: 4
November 2009

Abstract
Introduction  Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) presents without neurologic
symptoms in 19% in children less than 16 years in Switzerland
(2000–2008). In these cases, fever can be the only leading manifestation.
Case series  We report on four hospitalised children who had TBE and
presented as fever without localising signs (FWLS) between 2000 and 2008
in an endemic area in Switzerland. Continued