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Acute tick-borne encephalitis during pregnancy - An alarming combination.
L M Weinmayr1, D Kanz1, M Eckenweiler2
1Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases
|September 30, 2020
Summary
A pregnant woman contracted tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Germany. Both mother and child showed no adverse effects or long-term complications eight months post-infection, offering reassurance for future pregnancies.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
Background:
- Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infection transmitted by ticks, prevalent in endemic regions of Europe and Asia.
- TBE virus infection during pregnancy is rare, with limited data on maternal and fetal outcomes.
- Southern Germany is an endemic area for TBE, posing a risk to pregnant individuals.
Observation:
- A pregnant patient in her second trimester contracted TBE in Southern Germany.
- The patient presented with classic TBE symptoms: fever and headache.
- Diagnosis was confirmed via positive blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing for TBE virus.
Findings:
- The acute TBE infection did not cause any detectable pregnancy complications.
- The mother experienced a full recovery from the TBE infection.
- Clinical follow-up at eight months revealed no neurological sequelae in either the mother or the child.
Implications:
- This case provides rare clinical evidence of TBE infection during pregnancy.
- Findings suggest TBE may not invariably lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes or long-term sequelae.
- Offers valuable guidance for healthcare providers and expectant mothers in TBE-endemic areas regarding risk and management.
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