What should I do to treat and prevent viral encephalitis?

Inflammation of the brain substance or encephalitis refers to pathologies that cause viruses, less often other infections. Isolate the primary and secondary form of the disease. If a viral encephalitis is diagnosed, the treatment is selected, taking into account the etiologic factor.

In primary forms of the disease, the infection penetrates directly into the brain( tick-borne, herpetic).Secondary form of the disease occurs against the background of other infections or after vaccination. By the nature of the inflammation, the disease can be purulent or nasty.

First aid

If the patient has severe encephalitis, first aid is to carry out activities in the intensive care unit. The patients are shown:

• oxygen therapy, connection to the artificial respiration apparatus;
• lowering of intracranial pressure;
• maintaining blood circulation;
• antiepileptic therapy;
• anesthesia.

Patients on AV ventilation should be prophylaxis of pressure sores, monitor the state of the urinary and respiratory systems. Early intensive therapy has a positive effect on the outcome of the disease.

Integrated treatment of encephalitis

Before treating encephalitis, find out the cause of inflammation. In the hospital, the following activities are carried out:

• pathogenetic therapy;
• etiotropic treatment;
• the appointment of symptomatic agents;
• rehabilitation measures.

Pathogenetic treatment of cerebral encephalitis is:

• prophylaxis of hydrocephalus;
• desensitization;
• protection of the adrenal cortex;
• cupping of inflammation;
• improvement of microcirculation;
• normalization of water-electrolyte balance;
• elimination of cardiac pathologies;
• maintaining respiration;
• restoration of metabolism in the brain tissues.

To prevent brain edema, patients are prescribed a solution of Manitol, Diacarb, Furosemide. At the same time desensitization with preparations of Suprastin, Tavegil, Dimedrol is carried out. To maintain the adrenal cortex and prevent their depletion, appoint glucocorticoids( dexamethasone, prednisalone).Drugs also have anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effects.

In order to improve the microcirculation appoint Reopoliglyukin, Refortan. To normalize the water-electrolyte balance, administration of physioloic solutions, glucose, 4% sodium hydrogen carbonate solution is prescribed. With dysfunction of the cardiovascular system, cardiac glycosides, camphor solution, vasopressor agents are shown.

For oxygenation of respiration, oxygen therapy is carried out. In acute respiratory disturbances, intubation and artificial ventilation in the intensive care unit are indicated. In order to restore metabolic processes in the brain tissues, vitamin C, R, B, D, Cerebrolysin, Gliatilin are prescribed. Anti-inflammatory treatment is carried out with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs( Diclofenac, Ibuprofen).

Etiotropic treatment includes the appointment of antiviral agents that delay the multiplication of viruses. Widely used RNA-azu, Cytosine-arabinose. Leukocyte interferon, Prodigeozan is shown.

Patients are symptomatic:

• anticonvulsant;
• is antipiritic;
• antidelious;
• normalization of sleep.

To combat epileptic status, anticonvulsants are prescribed( Seduxen, Hexon, Thiopental, Phenobarbital).At high temperature, antipyretic drugs( Analgin, Droperiodol) and local hypothermia( an ice pack) are used. To treat the delirious syndrome appoint Aminazine, Droperidol. Tranquilizers and antidepressants are also effective for the normalization of consciousness and psyche. To normalize the sleep, Noxiron, Eunotin and other agents that are related to barbiturates and benzodiazepine derivatives are shown.

Recovery measures after encephalitis

Recovery after encephalitis is carried out in several stages. Since the complications of the disease are mainly associated with a violation of the central nervous system, the patients are shown the following activities:

1. Treatment of Parkinsonism. Patients are prescribed anticholinergics( Bellaspon, Norkain, Cyclodol), antihistamines( Dinezin), muscle relaxants( Midokalm).The preparations for improvement of trophism in the brain are shown( Actovegin, Piracetam).
2. Treatment of hyperkinesia. Patients are prescribed neuroleptic drugs( Aminazine), tranquilizers.
3. Treatment of paresis. They take medications that improve metabolic processes in the brain and muscles( ATP, Cerrobrolysin, vitamins B and E), drugs for neuromuscular conduction( Prozerin, Galantamine).In the rehabilitation period, massage, physiotherapy, physiotherapy procedures are shown.
4. Treatment of epilepsy. Patients are prescribed funds to improve metabolism, anticonvulsants( Tegretol), neurotropic( Aminazine), tranquilizers( Mebikar, Elenium).

In case of ineffectiveness of therapeutic measures, patients are shown surgical intervention.

Prevention

Encephalitis is a very dangerous disease. The best that a person can do is to prevent its occurrence. What to do to prevent encephalitis? In areas where there are epidemics of tick-borne encephalitis, it is recommended to do the vaccination. Usually, prevention is carried out before the outbreak occurs( January-March).

Repeated vaccination is indicated after one year. In the spring period, do not recommend trips to nature, because at this time encephalitis ticks are particularly active.

Important! When penetrating the mite under the skin, you should immediately contact a specialist. It is forbidden to engage in self-medication.

Since encephalitis can develop against a background of viral diseases, it is recommended to vaccinate against measles, chicken pox. Sometimes inflammation of the brain begins after DTP vaccination. Doctors recommend carefully monitoring the condition of the child in the first days after vaccination. At the first symptoms or poor health of the child, contact the pediatrician.

Is encephalitis treated completely without consequences? In mild forms or after vaccination, the disease can result in a favorable outcome without complications. Only after an acute period of persistent disorders of the nervous system: a violation of autonomic function, psyche, vestibular disorders. In severe brain damage, people remain disabled with long or complete disability.