Adamczuk et al. Severe cases of tick-borne encephalitis in Northeastern Poland. Pathogens. 2024;14(1):7. doi:10.3390/pathogens14010007
In Poland, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccination coverage remains low, with reported rates of approximately 11%. Northeastern Poland is a high-risk area for TBE virus infections. To raise awareness of the disease and its potential complications, two severe TBE cases have been reported in detail.
The first case involves a 36-year-old woman who was hospitalized two weeks after a tick bite. She initially presented with vomiting, headache, dizziness, speech disturbances, and fever (39°C). Her condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to paresis of the left upper limb and complete neck stiffness. Despite treatment, she required intensive care, where she lost consciousness and underwent intubation with mechanical ventilation. After discharge, she was transferred to a rehabilitation facility. However, her condition remained critical. One year later, she was bedridden, breathing through a tracheostomy, and required periodic invasive mechanical ventilation at home due to recurring dyspnea and gasometric disturbances.
The second case involves a 57-year-old woman who developed neck stiffness, lip and tongue tremors, and left-limb paresis. During hospitalization, her condition worsened, leading to confusion, impaired verbal communication, and the need for temporary high-flow oxygen therapy. Following rehabilitation, she regained some mobility but remained wheelchair-dependent, with persistent flaccid paresis and muscle atrophy in her left lower limb.
Despite 18 months of rehabilitation, both patients showed minimal improvement. Neither had been vaccinated against TBE, which could have prevented the disease and its debilitating long-term consequences.