Tick-borne encephalitis is a very dangerous disease that can lead to mental disorders, musculoskeletal problems, and impaired vision and hearing. It is transmitted by ticks, which are most active in late spring and early summer. The tick-borne encephalitis virus can neutralize immunoglobulin, so immediate medical attention is required after exposure to the parasite.
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What is immunoglobulin?
Immunoglobulin (globular protein or antibodies) is a special protein secreted by our body to form an immune defense.
Our body produces five classes of antibodies.
There are five different classes of immunoglobulin, which differ not only in their chemical composition but also in certain functions. The primary function of all antibodies is to detect viruses and foreign microorganisms and help the immune system fight them. Each class of globular protein is responsible for specific types of foreign bodies.
Antibodies are a powerful weapon created by our bodies to fight viruses, but the immune system isn't always able to combat an infectious disease. In this case, immunoglobulin can be used as a medication.
Antibody preparations come in the form of tablets or injection solutions. They are taken as prescribed by a doctor; self-medication can be dangerous to health. For the prevention and treatment of various viral diseases, immunoglobulin can be taken by pregnant women and children, but under the supervision of a physician.
Immunoglobulin Ig G
Immunoglobulin IgG (also known as the "youth hormone") accounts for approximately 75% of all antibodies produced by the human body and is extremely small. This allows the globular protein to penetrate even the placental barrier and contribute to the baby's immunity. Therefore, pregnant women are advised to take immunoglobulin G, but under the supervision of doctors.
Immunoglobulin G protects not only the pregnant woman from viruses, bacteria and fungi, but also her baby.
Immunoglobulin for the prevention and treatment of tick-borne encephalitis
Immunoglobulin is actively used to prevent and treat tick-borne encephalitis. It is based on class G antibodies, which effectively neutralize this virus.
1 ml of immunoglobulin injection is capable of combating 660 thousand lethal doses of the virus.
The encephalitis tick infects a person during a bite, so it is important to go outdoors in completely closed clothing.
During the first 24–48 hours, the body's antibody levels rise, after which the fight against the virus begins. Immunoglobulin does not remain in the body but is eliminated within 8–10 weeks.
Administration after a tick bite
As soon as you discover a tick on yourself, you must remove it from your skin, ensuring that the tick's head and proboscis are removed from your body. Otherwise, it will cause inflammation.
Whatever you use to remove the tick, you need to grab it as close to the head as possible so as not to tear off the body.
If possible, take the tick to a lab to determine whether it carries encephalitis or other viruses. If this isn't possible, get tested within the first two days after the bite to determine whether you're infected.
If you have not been vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis or have not completed the full course of vaccination, you should receive immunoglobulin as soon as possible, but no later than 4 days after the parasite bite. Otherwise, the treatment may be long and painful.
If you have been vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis but have been exposed to multiple bites, you will need to take a second dose of immunoglobulin, as the antibodies you already have may not be able to cope with a large number of viruses.
If you have been taking immunoglobulin but have been bitten by a tick again (either one or a small number), you will need to have the drug administered, but not earlier than a month after the first use of the medication.
Video: Immunoglobulin against tick-borne encephalitis
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Wk-CGhfP2j0
Administration of the drug before contact with the tick
Globular protein can be used as a preventative measure before direct contact with an infected tick. If you live in an endemic area, you should take immunoglobulin to prepare your body for a possible encounter with the parasite. However, remember that antibodies will not provide any protective properties for the first two days—they accumulate in the body, and once the virus is detected, they begin to fight it.
If you have taken immunoglobulin in advance, remember to follow basic safety precautions when outdoors during periods of increased tick activity:
- Clothing should be as covering as possible: tight-fitting sweatshirts with long sleeves, jackets made of slippery material with a tightly closing neck, trousers and jeans tucked into socks, and a hat is required (for men too).
- It is advisable to wear light-colored clothing so that ticks can be seen immediately.
- If you're in the woods, take a stick and hit the leaves of the trees you need to pass under with it—ticks like to wait for their prey, sitting in trees, and then jump down on them.
You can use insect repellents, but they wear off quickly and don't provide the same results as proper clothing.
Video: All about tick-borne encephalitis
Use of the drug
Immunoglobulin is available as tablets or as an injectable solution. The injection is the preferred option, as it allows the drug to be absorbed more quickly.
The drug is administered intramuscularly into (one of two):
- upper outer quadrant of the gluteus maximus;
- outer surface of the thigh.
The injection should be given in the upper outer part of the buttock.
It is strictly forbidden to inject globular protein into a vein.
Before opening, keep the ampoule in a warm room for at least 2 hours to prevent the medication from becoming cold. Observe all hygiene requirements when administering immunoglobulin:
- Wash your hands with soap.
Wash your hands before the injection only with soap to minimize the possibility of introducing germs into the body.
- Wipe the unopened ampoule with alcohol.
The ampoules may contain dust particles and various microbes, so wipe them with alcohol.
- Shake the ampoule. If there was a small white sediment (this is normal, nothing to worry about), it should dissolve completely.
- Open the ampoule and draw the contents into a syringe so that no foam forms.
- Hold the syringe vertically, tap it with your finger until air bubbles collect at the top, and gently press the plunger to force all the air out through the needle. If a drop appears on the needle, there's no more air in the syringe.
There should be no air in the syringe, as it can get into the blood and clog an artery.
It's best to have a professional administer the injection, but if that's not possible, you can administer it yourself. To do this, follow these steps:
- Relax completely before administering the medication.
- Wipe the injection site with rubbing alcohol. Then, after changing the cotton swab, do it again—just to be sure.
- Insert the needle to a depth of 1–2 centimeters, no more. The needle should be perpendicular to the injection site. The needle should be inserted quickly and decisively, not slowly and carefully.
- Using a clean cotton swab soaked in alcohol, clean the injection site and only then quickly remove the needle at a 90-degree angle.
- Massage the injection site and lie down for a while to help the medication dissolve faster.
Table: Immunoglobulin dosage
| Body weight | Injection volume |
| 5 kg | 0.5 ml |
| 10 kg | 1.0 ml |
| 20 kg | 2.0 ml |
| 30 kg | 3.0 ml |
| 40 kg | 4.0 ml |
| 50 kg | 5.0 ml |
| 60 kg | 6.0 ml |
| 70 kg | 7.0 ml |
| 80 kg | 8.0 ml |
Pregnancy and lactation period
Most often, immunoglobulin is prescribed to pregnant women in two cases:
- if there are serious disturbances in the formation of the child’s immune system;
- if the woman lives in an endemic area.
The health of a child is largely determined by the development of the immune system in the womb.
Immunoglobulin is administered to a pregnant woman in a hospital setting via intravenous drip. The dosage is calculated on a case-by-case basis. The following factors influence the dosage:
- maternal health;
- child's health;
- gestational age;
- how is pregnancy progressing;
- purpose of using the drug.
No clinical studies have been conducted on the effects of immunoglobulin on pregnancy, but experience shows that injections do not lead to developmental abnormalities in the child.
During lactation, immunoglobulin can be administered to the mother, but with extreme caution and under strict medical supervision.
Features of drug administration to children
In Russia, there is a program called "Vaccination Prevention," according to which children must be vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis starting at the age of three.
It is necessary to vaccinate a child against tick-borne encephalitis so that the body can subsequently cope with the virus on its own.
The first vaccination is given at age three in the winter. The second is given one to seven months after the first (the exact interval is determined by the attending physician), and the third is given exactly one year after the second. Until all three vaccinations are completed, the child is considered unvaccinated and is recommended to receive immunoglobulin in case of tick exposure. If your child has been vaccinated, you should discuss the advisability of injections with your doctor.
It is highly recommended not to administer globulin to children under three years of age.
Contraindications
A contraindication to globular protein administration is a severe allergic reaction to various medications. If a person has allergies or a severe reaction to various allergens, immunoglobulin is administered, but after antihistamines. Antihistamines should be continued for eight days after using globular protein.
Antihistamines should be prescribed by the doctor.
If a person has systemic diseases that are accompanied by various immunopathological mechanisms (diseases of the circulatory system, connective tissues, and so on), then when administering globular protein, special therapy is carried out.
The administration of globular protein is possible only upon doctor’s prescription.
Side effects
Typically, patients do not react to the administration of immunoglobulin, except for temporary pain at the injection site, but the following side effects are possible in pregnant women:
- dyspnea;
- joint pain;
- weakness, fatigue, drowsiness;
- increased temperature and blood pressure;
- itching, rash;
- nausea, vomiting;
- dry cough;
- pain in the chest area.
Reviews
I think this is a very necessary vaccination. Personally, I felt calmer and recovered from the shock when my child received this vaccine. It's better to be safe than to catch an infection. Moreover, encephalitis is not uncommon these days, and the consequences can be dire. All children receive it free of charge at emergency rooms when their parents seek medical attention for a tick bite.
I'll note right away that my child had a painful reaction to the injection, and a painful lump formed at the injection site, although the instructions for the medication itself didn't mention such a reaction. We cried for about ten minutes after the injection, but then my daughter calmed down, and within an hour she was back to being an active and cheerful child. The immunoglobulin didn't cause any side effects, not even a fever.
I was fully vaccinated (I'd been for two years) when I was bitten by a tick. I was given immunoglobulin. It was because it was unknown whether the tick was infected or not. It was 1 a.m., and the tick's examination had been rescheduled for the following day. So, they gave me the immunoglobulin just in case. The tick turned out to have encephalitis—the injection was worth it—that's what the doctor said.
Your health is in your hands, so if you come into contact with a tick, seek medical attention immediately. It's best if you're healthy, but if you do contract encephalitis, don't panic—immune globulin will help your body fight the infection.
