Herpes: the brain is at risk. Herpetic lesion of the brain Is a group given after herpes of the brain

Herpes brain is a dangerous viral pathology that leads to meningitis.

Most often, the disease occurs in young people and children, occurring in a severe form that requires immediate treatment measures. Inflammation of the meninges is accompanied by vivid symptoms.

Symptoms of herpes brain

Signs of herpes development in the brain:

headache, which intensifies as the pathology develops;
the occurrence of seizures that are not amenable to drug treatment;
increase in body temperature to 39-40°C;
confusion;
double vision;
pain when trying to move the eyeballs;
weakness in the limbs;
unsteady gait;
hallucinations;
memory losses.

When the nerve trunks of the spinal cord are damaged, loss of sensation in the limbs may occur.

Reasons for appearance

The process of reactivation of the herpes virus can provoke a weakened immune system. The main provoking factor in the development of the disease is HSV-1, which penetrates the human body. The herpes simplex virus is activated only under favorable conditions, the main one being the presence of a chronic focus of infection that undermines the functioning of the immune system.

Diagnosis and treatment

It is difficult to differentiate the disease from other CNS lesions. For these purposes, the following types of research are used:

PCR. Allows you to identify the herpes virus by determining its DNA. This method is considered the most reliable;
MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging shows the slightest structural changes in the brain, which is also of great diagnostic importance for the doctor;
Blood and urine analysis. With meningitis, the normal values of ESR and leukocytes change.

Therapy for young children and newborns requires urgent hospitalization, as the disease can lead to serious consequences. Drugs used for treatment:

Antiviral. They influence the cause of the pathology. By suppressing the activity of herpes, they help restore normal functioning of the immune system. Such drugs are also used to prevent relapse.
Antipyretic. Allows you to reduce high fever, improving overall well-being.
Nootropic. Helps restore blood circulation in the brain and improve the condition of the central nervous system.
Anticonvulsants. They allow you to relax your muscles, eliminating their uncontrolled contraction.

At the rehabilitation stage, B vitamins are often prescribed to improve the condition of the nervous system. During treatment, it is important to provide the patient with peace and absence of harsh sounds. If swelling and rash occur, antihistamines and diuretics are additionally prescribed.

Complications and consequences

Herpes in the brain can cause dangerous consequences, including death. The prognosis with a timely approach to treatment is favorable. Complications that occur most often.

Herpes brain is an infectious inflammation of the brain substance of viral origin. In medical nosology, the disease is called herpetic encephalitis. The disease manifests itself with general cerebral symptoms and specific signs that are characteristic of the herpes simplex virus. The infection affects not only the brain, but also other parts of the nervous system.

People aged 5-30 years and after 50 most often succumb to viral brain damage. Seasonality is not typical.

The disease occurs in two forms:

Asymptomatic carriage of the virus. Herpes does not manifest itself due to its containment by the immune system. The patient still remains a potential source of infection through contact with other people (transmission routes are through mucous membranes and skin). There are no symptoms for latent virus carriage.
Manifest form of the virus. The nature of the typical clinical picture for herpetic inflammation of the brain.

Herpetic encephalitis is characterized by high mortality and severe course. Possible outcomes of the disease:

dementia – early dementia;
death;
apallic syndrome is a comatose state in which a person is “conscious”, but does not participate in the world around him and loses all cognitive functions.

With timely diagnosis and treatment, consequences are avoided and the patient returns to their previous lifestyle.

Causes and pathogenesis

Herpetic encephalitis is caused by herpes virus type 1 or 2. The virus itself, once inside a nerve cell, does not kill it. On the contrary, the neuron inhibits the virus and prevents it from multiplying. Herpes manifests itself when a person’s immune system, as a result of factors that reduce the protective functions, is weakened. These factors include:

stress;
bad food;
lack of sleep;
bad habits and addictions;
passive lifestyle.

The herpes virus enters the brain through nerve pathways. For example, the infection was transmitted through the mucous membrane of the mouth and transported from there to the mucous membrane of the nose. Once in favorable conditions (warmth, moisture, nutrient medium), herpes is transposed along the olfactory nerves into the second neuron - the olfactory bulb, through which the virus reaches the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. This option is typical for adults.

The second route is hematogenous, blood. This type of infection is characteristic of a generalized infection of newborns when the mother is a carrier of the virus.

Symptoms and diagnosis

The symptoms of herpetic encephalitis usually have a typical onset and dynamics. The disease begins with a flu-like state and is manifested by the first symptoms:

acute increase in body temperature to 39-40C;
nausea and vomiting;
asthenic syndrome: fatigue, apathy, irritability.

In some cases, the illness begins with coughing, sneezing and runny nose.

On days 2-3, characteristic signs of brain inflammation appear:

Impaired consciousness. “Swing”: a state of excitement, lasting up to several hours, gives way to lethargy, drowsiness and apathy. As the disease progresses, the phenomena of impaired consciousness intensify: the patient may fall into a coma.
Paresis. The weakening of muscle strength in the limbs occurs suddenly.
Epileptoid states and petit mal seizures.
Transient mental disorders. Short-term memory impairment occurs: patients have difficulty remembering what is happening and are unable to reproduce events during the illness. In the clinical picture, symptoms specific to brain regions are observed:
- acalculia – violation of arithmetic counting;
- agnosia – impaired perception of different modalities (auditory, olfactory, gustatory, visual);
- apraxia – a state of temporary loss of higher skills (working with a screwdriver, sewing skills);
- aphasia – a violation of the formation and perception of speech;
- psychotic disorders: symptoms of confusion;
- Korsakoff syndrome: inability to remember current events, disorientation in time, reproduction of fictional (from books, films) events;
- infectious delirium: real visual hallucinations, fear, anxiety; the patient shouts out separate words that are not related to each other; inappropriate behavior; complains that he sees fantastic beasts that are trying to kill him;

The disease is diagnosed based on the clinical picture, laboratory diagnostics and instrumental methods. The latter also includes. They help rule out other brain diseases (tumors, for example).

PCR and lumbar puncture are considered the gold standard. The first method finds viral DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid, the second - qualitative changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (increased protein, lymphocytes, leukocytes, rate of erythrocyte coagulation and specific gravity of the cerebrospinal fluid).

Treatment

Therapy for herpes brain is carried out in the intensive care unit:

Etiotropic treatment (elimination of the cause): an antiviral drug is prescribed - acyclovir.
Relieving cerebral edema with strong diuretics (furosemide).
Relief of epileptic seizures: sibazon solution.
Correction of water and electrolyte balance: sodium bicarbonate, Ringer's solution, sodium chloride.
Prevention of bacterial complications: drugs that enhance immunity (interferon) are prescribed.

Forecast

The prognosis of the disease is unfavorable for several reasons:

Patients who develop coma die in 70-80%.
Akinetic mutism syndrome develops, a condition in which the patient cannot speak or move, although the physical ability for speech and movement remains.
Long-term recovery stage: from two years or more, patients regain mental functions.
Severe cognitive disorders. For example, Klüver-Bucy syndrome. It is characterized by weakening of emotions, eating disorders, hypersexuality and visual agnosia (loss of the ability to recognize objects through the visual channel of information).

Most often, herpes in the brain is recorded in children and adolescents. The route of entry of the virus into the central nervous system is the mucous membrane of the nasal passages. The pathology is highly contagious. Only people with strong immunity can avoid infection. The development of the disease in adults is associated with susceptibility to type 1 virus or carriage. The pathogen can exist for a long time outside the body. Its viability increases significantly in a humid environment.

The risk of infection is associated with a decrease in immunity in the autumn and spring, which determines the seasonality of the incidence. Herpetic encephalitis can develop according to one of the following scenarios:

Primary infection. From the mucous membrane of the nose or mouth, the pathogen penetrates the axons of the smelling nerves, which gives it access to the central nervous system.
Activation of the virus in the carrier. A sharp decrease in immunity associated with head trauma, lack of proper nutrition, frequent stress, the development of tuberculosis, AIDS, malignant neoplasms, rheumatism, activates the pathogen. The pathology affects the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain. In the affected area, an inflammatory process begins, accompanied by swelling and cell death.

The disease is severe and difficult to treat.

The causes of herpes on the head are exactly the same as on all other parts of the body. The immune system reacts to the introduction of the virus by producing specific antibodies that are able to keep its activity under control. But under some circumstances, the body is unable to cope with the activity of the pathogen. Such circumstances are:

decreased immunity;
stressful situations;
hard physical labor;
inadequate rest;
poor nutrition;
pregnancy;
immunodeficiency states.

All herpetic diseases have a similar clinical picture. The incubation period lasts on average 21 days after infection. At the initial stage, a person feels unwell, body temperature rises, nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, and enlarged cervical lymph nodes are possible. The scalp turns red and itches, but it is possible that the patient will not notice this under the hair. Signs of a herpes infection are similar to a cold or poisoning.

After 1-2 days, characteristic symptoms begin to appear. A temperature jump is recorded, bubbles with liquid appear on the head. When HSV-1 is infected, the entire head can be affected, the patient feels itching; when type 3 of the virus is activated, a rash appears on one side (most often in the back of the head, temples), the affected area hurts very much.

Under the influence of external factors, the bubbles open on their own, and small erosions form. At this stage, a person is very contagious, and there is also a risk of introducing bacterial flora into the wounds, which can lead to the development of complications. The ulcers become covered with crusts, which fall off without leaving a trace (with HSV-1). In case of varicella zoster infection, indented scars may remain on the skin.

In a child, a rash occurs against the background of chickenpox, when herpetic lesions appear throughout the body (from head to toe). Children tolerate the disease much easier than adults. Within two weeks, complete recovery occurs.

Depending on the level of the body's defenses, symptoms can last from 2 to 4 weeks. In the case of herpes zoster on the head, painful sensations along the nerve endings may not go away for a long period of time (from several months to several years).

There are two reasons why painful manifestations of herpes appear under the scalp:

Infection;
Recurrence or local manifestation of herpes zoster on the head.

In the first case, infection occurs through direct contact with the patient - for example, using the patient's comb or close contact with his hair. Communication with infected people who are in the third

stage of the disease - even the slightest drop of liquid from a burst vesicle contains many virus cells that will penetrate the skin through the slightest damage - scratches or wounds.

Herpes zoster on the head most often occurs in women over 50 years of age, although in recent years the age of patients has begun to decline rapidly. The culprit of the outbreak of the disease is the Varicellazoster virus - it is the cause of childhood chickenpox. But, if the child’s body in the vast majority of cases easily fights the manifestations of the disease, then it is more difficult for an adult.

If the first manifestations of herpes are found in the scalp, you need to start treating it as soon as possible, otherwise you will have to deal with more serious health problems later:

Often, inflammatory processes on the scalp lead to inflammatory processes in the ears or eyes. In especially severe cases, blindness or deafness may develop;
If liquid from burst bubbles enters the respiratory tract, there is a high probability of developing acute pneumonia;
Sometimes neglected shingles on the head can quickly spread throughout the body and even affect internal organs;
Damage to the central nervous system - if the ulcers from the vesicles are too deep, then the virus cells can affect the nerve endings, which will lead to a malfunction of the entire system.

If you have at least once encountered manifestations of herpes on the head, be prepared for the fact that the virus will remain living in the body forever. In principle, it does not affect the quality of life in any way and only appears under certain circumstances, when the defenses are greatly reduced.

The main reasons why the virus is activated:

hypothermia – it’s not for nothing that herpes is often called a “cold”, since some of its symptoms are similar to colds;
nervous shock, stress – nervous exhaustion of the body leads to a sharp decrease in immunity;
poor nutrition, monotonous diet without essential vitamins and microelements;
bad habits;
poor ecology in the area of residence;
chronic diseases.

These were only the most basic reasons leading to the fact that the “dormant” virus wakes up and begins to infect the weakened body. At the slightest manifestation of the disease, immediately begin the fight against the virus, monitor your lifestyle and health - and then herpes on the head will no longer bother you.

The manifestations of the pathology are specific and diagnosis is usually not difficult. In addition to rashes on the scalp and itchy skin, a person experiences other symptoms:

weakness;
enlarged cervical lymph nodes;
nausea;
vomit;
headache;
temperature rise to 39°C;
loss of appetite.

Herpes of the scalp occurs in 4 stages. Each is characterized by certain characteristics:

first - itching, redness of the skin, pain, weakness occurs;
second – bubbles of different sizes (vesicles) are formed, filled with transparent contents;
third - liquid elements burst;
fourth - a scab appears in place of the vesicles.

Within a month after the onset of the disease, the pathological process subsides, however, in patients with weakened immunity, discomfort may persist along the nerves affected by the virus (postherpetic neuralgia). Sometimes skin sensitivity is also impaired. Postherpetic neuralgia is more common if the disease is complicated by eye damage.

The causes of herpes on the head are primary infection due to the penetration of the virus through scratches on the skin or its reactivation when the body’s immune defense is reduced. Various factors can provoke immunodeficiency:

insufficient physical activity;
bad habits;
changes in hormonal levels (menopause, menstruation, pregnancy);
prolonged stress;
hypothermia or overheating;
surgical interventions;
bad ecology;
unbalanced diet;
chronic diseases.

Symptoms, stages and causes

Symptoms of herpes on the head can appear in combination or individually. There are four stages of the disease:

at the initial stage unpleasant sensations appear in the area of the future focus of the disease - it may be itching, pain, tingling, and later redness appears;
when the disease passes to the second stage, acute inflammation of the scalp begins, which is accompanied by the formation of painful blisters filled with clear liquid;
The third stage of herpes or a cold on the head is accompanied by the fact that the blisters spontaneously burst and the liquid that filled them flows out. This is one of the dangerous periods - in addition to the likelihood of harmful microbes getting into open ulcers, the risk of infecting others increases, since the liquid is infected;
at the last stage disease, a scab appears in place of the former vesicles (bubbles).

In principle, the body of an adult, not weakened by disease, is able to overcome an infection without drug treatment - gradually the scab will dry out, the ulcers will heal and a complete recovery will occur. But, if the sick person has bad habits, any chronic diseases or weakened immunity, medications are simply necessary.

Rashes on the head in children and pregnant women

Herpes scalp in children is manifested by itching, pain, redness and burning in the area of the rash. Other signs include nausea, drowsiness, and fever. Convulsions are possible.

In children, herpetic rashes most often appear in the autumn-spring period. However, the disease can be triggered by a trip to the sea, an untreated cold, hypovitaminosis, hypothermia or overheating.

Wound healing in children occurs faster than in adults. Treatment is performed with antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs. To improve immunity, children's vitamin complexes (Complivit, Pikovit) are recommended. Complications of the disease are rarely diagnosed.

Herpes on the head in the hair of pregnant women, depending on the period at which the process began, implies different options and the likelihood of complications.

Primary infection with the virus in the first trimester is an indication for its interruption, since the risk to the fetus is too great. Relapse of the disease is treated with topical drugs (Acyclovir).

When the herpes virus is activated on the head in the hair in the second and third trimester, treatment is supplemented with antiviral drugs and constant monitoring of the condition of the fetus using an ultrasound procedure.

A child infected in utero or during birth is born with a neonatal form of chickenpox, which is often complicated by encephalitis, hepatitis, and pneumonia.

The danger of herpes on the lips and genital herpes during pregnancy

About 95% of people on the planet are carriers of the labial (simple) herpes virus, often called the common cold. The remaining 5% of the population, for as yet unknown reasons, have persistent immunity to this disease. In carriers of the virus, when the body's defenses decrease, for example, during pregnancy, bacterial infections or colds, the disease worsens.

When carrying a fetus, the expectant mother needs to pay special attention to her health, since even harmless herpes on the lips during pregnancy can be dangerous, especially in the case of various complications.

Symptoms of herpes on the lips in pregnant women

Signs of herpes infection are the same for males and females and do not depend on whether the woman is pregnant or not. The clinical picture depends only on the type of herpes (first or second) and the course of the disease (primary or recurrent form).

With primary infection, the symptom of intoxication is pronounced, accompanied by general weakness and weakness, an increase in temperature to 38-38.5 ° C, and a decrease in physical and mental performance. Headaches and muscle aches may occur.

Another characteristic sign of herpes on the lips during pregnancy is rashes on the mucous membranes and skin. First, a burning and itching sensation occurs, unpleasant tingling sensations appear in the affected area, and after a while spots form, gradually turning into blisters filled with liquid.

With a recurrent form of herpes, no symptoms of intoxication are observed, and the sick person feels great. Changes can only be detected locally. If the relapse is repeated, the development of vesicles can be prevented by starting immediate treatment.

Why is the herpes virus dangerous during pregnancy?

In the early stages, herpes on the lips in pregnant women is not as dangerous as in the second or third trimester. This is due to the fact that the virus is able to pass through the placenta, the formation of which begins after the eighth week. However, in the first 12-13 weeks the risk of spontaneous abortion increases, so it is impossible to categorically state that nothing threatens the fetus in the first trimester.

With primary infection in the later stages (after 27-28 weeks), the consequences of herpes on the lips during pregnancy are especially dangerous, since the virus can lead to brain damage to the unborn baby, the development of fetal deformities and even stillbirth.

With relapses, intrauterine infection is minimized. This is due to the fact that the mother’s blood already contains specific antibodies that provide a kind of protection for the child from damage by the virus.

Another negative consequence of herpes on the lips during pregnancy is the possibility of infection during childbirth, but more often this occurs with a genital infection. when the mucous membranes of the woman’s genital organs are affected. The baby, passing through the birth canal, picks up the virus from the mother.

Treatment of herpes on the lips during pregnancy

To reduce pain and burning, the doctor prescribes antiherpetic ointments, the most famous of which are herpevir, allomedine, acyclovir and Zovirax. The product is applied to the affected area five times a day every 4 hours, the entire course of treatment is 5 days. You can significantly reduce the duration of the disease and reduce the degree of damage if you start using the ointment at the first signs of infection.

Under no circumstances should you open any bubbles that appear or forcefully remove crusts. It is important to maintain personal hygiene to prevent further spread of the virus.

Treatment of herpes on the lips during pregnancy is carried out at home. Hospitalization is recommended only for severe illness (fever, chills, severe headache). Sometimes the doctor advises lubricating the rash with a solution of interferon and vitamin E capsules, as it promotes wound healing. In case of insufficiency of immunity, a course of treatment with immunoglobulins is recommended after 15-16 weeks.

From homeopathic medicines and traditional medicine advice, two methods can be noted:

Lubricating the bubbles with camphor or fir oil (burn every two hours until a burning sensation appears);
Using regular Corvalol or propolis tincture (every two hours).

Also, to prevent the appearance of herpes on the lips of a pregnant woman, it is important to review her diet and exclude spicy, fatty and smoked foods, as well as sugar and chocolate. The diet should be balanced with an increased content of fruits and vegetables.

If the expectant mother has never had herpes, then it is better to get vaccinated at the planning stage of pregnancy. Thanks to the immunity created in this way, it is possible to avoid infection with the virus while carrying a child.

Herpes is a viral infection that externally manifests itself in the form of a rash of blisters on the body and mucous membranes. There are 8 types of infection, but the most common are herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. When these types of herpes worsen, blisters appear on the lips or genitals. Moreover, with type 1 herpes, in 80% of cases the rashes are localized on the lips and in 20% in the genital area. And with type 2 herpes it’s the opposite: in 80% of diseases, blisters appear in the genital area and in 20% on the face.

Herpes simplex during pregnancy is a disease that is potentially dangerous to the health and life of the baby and his mother. In this article we will talk about everything related to the herpes virus and bearing a child.

Causes of herpes during pregnancy

Approximately 75% of women are carriers of the herpes virus. Moreover, many of them do not even realize it until they develop rashes on their genitals or lips. 3-4 weeks after infection with the virus, the body develops immunity, which prevents severe consequences from occurring during the next exacerbation of herpes.

From the moment a child is conceived, a woman’s immune system becomes weakened, as this is necessary for the successful bearing of a child. Therefore, quite often women expecting a baby experience relapses of this disease. In most cases, genital herpes is diagnosed during pregnancy.

Infection with the herpes virus type 1 occurs in childhood through physical contact with a sick person, for example, through a kiss or sharing dishes. As a result, about 80% of women already have immunity to the herpes virus by the time they conceive a child. Therefore, a recurrence of herpes simplex during pregnancy does not pose a threat to the health of mother and baby.

joint pain;
confusion;
muscle weakness in the leg and arm on one side;
loss of smell;
convulsions;
fainting;
chills;
increased body temperature;
weakness;
tension in the muscles of the back of the head, which is expressed in the fact that it is painful and difficult to tilt the head to the chest;
vomit;
Strong headache.

Many of the above symptoms of herpes on the lips during pregnancy pose a potential threat to the development and health of the baby. As a result, as soon as a woman expecting a baby discovers painful or itchy red spots on her face, she should immediately consult a doctor for advice.

Treatment with antiviral cream should be started as soon as possible to prevent the virus from spreading. Before applying the cream to affected areas of the skin, wash them with warm water and soap and pat dry with a towel. It is recommended to apply cream to the blisters every 3 hours. Usually the course of treatment lasts from 3 to 5 days.

Genital herpes during pregnancy

Infection with herpes type 2 during pregnancy is dangerous for the health and life of the mother and child. Therefore, if a woman notices the following symptoms, she should immediately consult a doctor. During pregnancy, genital herpes manifests itself with the following symptoms:

the appearance of bubbles filled with liquid in the genital area;
increased body temperature;
chills;
weakness;
enlarged lymph nodes in the groin;
pain and burning on the mucous membrane of the labia and the entrance to the vagina;
clear vaginal discharge;
burning when urinating.

If infection with the herpes simplex virus occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy, then there is a high risk of spontaneous termination of pregnancy (miscarriage) or the appearance of severe defects in the development of the child (most often, defects in the formation of the skull bones are diagnosed). When infection with genital herpes during pregnancy occurs late in pregnancy, consequences such as intrauterine growth retardation, premature birth, or infection of the child with the virus during natural childbirth are possible. Very rarely, herpes simplex during pregnancy leads to damage to the internal organs of a woman, and, as a result, to death.

In cases where the expectant mother was infected with the virus long before conceiving the child, and her body has already developed antibodies to herpes, and such people constitute approximately 30%, a recurrence of the disease during pregnancy only in 4% of cases has a negative impact on the health of the woman and baby . Moreover, an exacerbation of type 2 herpes during pregnancy in the first and second trimester is not dangerous for the development of the child.

But if a relapse occurs immediately before the expected date of birth, then there is a risk of infection of the baby during natural childbirth, when the child moves along the birth canal. In such cases, in order to avoid infection of the newborn, the obstetrician-gynecologist may recommend a cesarean section to the pregnant woman.

Signs of pathology

The disease develops with an acute increase in body temperature to 39⁰C, which is difficult to bring down. The day before, the patient develops symptoms of acute respiratory infections and herpetic rashes. The patient complains of convulsions. Signs of damage to the central nervous system are disturbances of consciousness. In some cases, everything is limited to inhibition of reactions, in others, the patient falls into a coma. The individual reaction of the body to the activity of the pathogen superimposes on the main symptoms additional ones in the form of:

confusion;
headache;
epileptic seizure;
the appearance of hallucinations;
paresis;
speech disorders.

The latent period of the disease lasts up to 20 days. In practice, this period is reduced to 7 days. The first symptoms appear as a painful tingling sensation on the skin and the appearance of a rash in these areas within a day. Localization of brain herpes in the organ trunk contributes to disruption of the body’s autonomic functions, which in severe cases results in cardiac or respiratory arrest.

The development of the disease in adults is associated with susceptibility to type 1 virus or carriage. The pathogen can exist for a long time outside the body.

After 12-24, an increase in body temperature to a critical level is observed. Self-administration of medications does not provide the expected results. The patient requires immediate hospitalization. If the patient doubts the need to seek medical help, then symptoms associated with further progression of the pathology should prompt them to dial an ambulance number. Signs of herpes brain appear in the following order:

The appearance of weakness throughout the body.
Convulsive seizures. Either all the muscles of the body contract, or only their individual groups. The administration of medications does not help get rid of frequently recurring unpleasant symptoms.
Impaired consciousness. The patient is stunned, may suffer from hallucinations, and lose consciousness.
Difficulty focusing vision. Patients complain of double vision, limited ability to look in one direction, pain when trying to move the eyeballs, and strabismus.

Afterwards, a lack of coordination develops, which limits the person’s ability to control the limbs. He has an unsteady gait and paresis of half his body. If a person is conscious, then he may experience memory loss, headaches, increased excitability, and loss of clarity of speech.

Diagnosis, treatment, consequences

The pathological process is diagnosed by external signs. The type of virus can be determined using PCR analysis.

How to treat herpes on the head? Therapy consists of taking medications and treating the affected areas.

When the first symptoms and manifestations of herpes appear on the scalp, treatment should begin immediately.

Ibuprofen and Paracetamol will help reduce discomfort and reduce temperature. In case of severe discomfort, pain-relieving patches (Versatis) are prescribed.

It is advisable to wash your hair with baby shampoo without fragrances or fragrances. Immediately after the procedure, the rash will need to be treated with hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green, chlorhexidine or fucorcin. It is also better to comb with a previously disinfected comb and very carefully so as not to damage the rash.

Antiseptic and antiviral agents help speed up the healing of wounds: Streptocide, Gerpevir, Miramistin, Zovirax. When crusts appear, erythromycin ointment is used, which significantly speeds up the healing process.

Antiviral drugs Valacyclovir, Famciclovir, Minaker, Acyclovir, Valvir are introduced into the DNA of pathological cells and stop their reproduction.

To increase immunity, immunostimulants and vitamin-mineral complexes are prescribed.

For severe forms of herpes, antidepressants are used.

Physiotherapy is effective in treatment (irradiation of the scalp with a quartz lamp, laser, ultraviolet radiation).

Herpes on the head can cause serious consequences if treatment is not started in a timely manner or the immune system is significantly reduced.

After the wounds heal, periodic dizziness, weakness, photophobia, and hallucinations are sometimes observed.

The consequences of herpes in the head periodically include hemorrhages, bacterial skin superinfection, gangrene, and purulent abscesses.

Fluid from the vesicles entering the respiratory tract can cause pneumonia.

The activity of the herpes virus in the head (in brain cells) leads to pathologies of the central nervous system. If the spinal cord is affected, paralysis of the arms and legs occurs.

Inflammatory processes in the ears and eyes can result in complete or partial blindness and deafness.

Damage to internal organs is caused by hepatitis, arthritis, pyelonephritis, infertility, cystitis, radiculitis, gastritis, pericarditis.

Herpes under the hair: what is it and how to treat?

To combat the pathogen, the patient is placed in an intensive care unit in a hospital. The basis of the treatment course for herpes brain is Herpevir or Acyclovir. Only a doctor can determine the effective dosage and frequency of administration of the drug, taking into account the risk of side effects and the severity of symptoms.

The success of treatment largely depends on the speed of restoration of the body's natural defenses. For this purpose, interferons and immunomodulators are prescribed. Drugs of these groups can significantly increase the effectiveness of antiviral drugs.

To suppress accompanying symptoms, the patient is additionally prescribed medications:

antipyretics;
anti-inflammatory and B vitamins - to eliminate weakness;
nootropics - for memory restoration;
drip solutions - in the presence of dehydration;
diuretics - to get rid of swelling;
anticonvulsants.

The effectiveness of treatment depends on the accuracy of the selection of funds and the creation of comfortable conditions for the patient. With herpes of the brain, whenever possible, all irritating factors are excluded and the patient’s activity is reduced as much as possible.

To successfully treat herpes on the head, antiviral drugs are needed that will help the body overcome the virus attacking it - the most effective are Famciclovir, Valacyclovir and Acyclovir. If treatment was started on time, the period of taking the medicine is five days. If you are diagnosed with herpes at the second or third stage of the disease, treatment may take two weeks.

It is advisable to take the antiviral in combination with any anti-inflammatory drug - Paracetamol, Ibuprofen or drugs based on them. This will help relieve inflammation, prevent the appearance of a large number of vesicles and relieve discomfort. Additionally, it is recommended to take a course of complex vitamins or immunostimulants to activate the body’s protective properties.

During the course of the disease, it is advisable to avoid frequent hair washing to avoid infection of healthy areas of the skin.

In order for the treatment of herpes on the head to be as effective as possible, it is advisable to accompany the use of antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs with local treatment of the source of the disease:

Regularly treat the inflamed area with antiviral ointment. Most often, Gerpevir or Zovirax are used for treatment;
At the third stage of the disease you need bactericidal treatment of burst blisters– this will prevent germs from entering open wounds. The treatment is reminiscent of the treatment of chickenpox - wiping with hydrogen peroxide, drying with brilliant green or fucorcin;
Allowed use of erythromycin ointment, which will accelerate the healing of ulcers at the stage of scab formation;
If the pain is very strong, then instead of taking an analgesic, you can use pain-relieving ointments or patches. The most effective are those developed on the basis of Lidocaine - they have virtually no contraindications and last up to 12 hours;
The use of physical therapy is recommended– under the influence of ultraviolet rays or a quartz lamp, the virus cells die.

1. The tingling stage, which begins with a burning sensation and pain in the lips. It lasts from several hours to 1 day. The development of herpes on the lips can be prevented if medications (Zovirax or Acyclovir ointment) are used in a timely manner.

2. Stage of inflammation. Redness and swelling appear on the lips. Then, with herpes lips, blisters with clear liquid form.

3. Ulceration stage. In place of the burst blisters, ulcers form. This stage is the most contagious to others. The patient is left with a feeling of pain and burning in the lips.

4. Stage of crust formation. Occurs on days 7-9. A brown crust appears, which disappears over time.

Herpes of the lips: treatment is carried out using special antiviral ointments. These are Vectavir, Zovirax, Acyclovir, Herpevir. The use of these ointments in the initial stages of herpes, when the first symptoms of the disease appear, can prevent the appearance of blisters on the lips. When treating a simple herpes virus, medicinal creams (ointments) are used, which are antiviral drugs, like Virolex. The cream is squeezed onto the finger and applied to the affected areas of the skin on the lips five times a day every 4 hours for 5 days.

When you have herpes on your lip, treatment can be aggravated by opening the blisters and removing the crust so that the virus does not spread to other areas of the skin or eye. As a rule, herpes is treated at home.

However, if the patient’s condition worsens: the temperature rises to 39 degrees, a severe headache occurs, general malaise occurs, appetite decreases, you need to consult a doctor for medical help.

Folk remedies can be used alone or in combination with medications.

A good effect is applied to the scalp with previously thoroughly washed leaves of plantain, violet or stems of prickly tartar. Pounded plants should be applied to problem areas several times a day.

Rubbing the rash with garlic juice and aloe vera reduces the activity of the virus.

Lubricating with valocordin, almond, sea buckthorn, and fir oil accelerates the wound healing process.

A tincture made from ginger rhizomes improves immunity. 150 g of plant must be poured with 800 ml of vodka and left in a dark place for 2 weeks. Take 2 times a day, 1 tsp.

Viburnum tea also improves the body's resistance. 20 g of berries are poured with a glass of boiling water and left for 4 hours. The course of treatment is 1-3 weeks.

Willow bark tincture also improves immunity. 5 tbsp. l of raw materials, pour 1 liter of boiling water and leave for 1 hour. Take 50 g before meals 3 times a day.

A decoction of birch buds accelerates the healing of damage. Young buds are poured with milk and kept for about 7 minutes over low heat. Then the broth is filtered and cotton wool or gauze is soaked in it and applied to the affected area.

A mixture of celandine and honey in equal proportions has a good healing effect. It is applied to gauze and fixed to the areas of the rash.

Compresses made from burdock, immortelle, chamomile, peppermint, oak bark, and calendula help relieve itching and burning. A 1:2 mixture of juice or infusion of lemon balm and apple cider vinegar also effectively reduces them.

Alcohol tincture of calendula has a wound healing and anti-inflammatory effect. 50 g of flowers are poured into 500 ml of vodka and left for 12 hours. Apply as compresses for 10 minutes 3-5 times a day.

To reduce the likelihood of relapse of the disease, it is necessary to strengthen the immune system, correct distribution of work and rest time, adequate sleep, physical activity, giving up bad habits, and a balanced diet. It is important to avoid overheating and hypothermia, excessive intellectual or physical stress.

Herpes on the head is the result of a decrease in human immunity. It is important to start treating it early. In this case, recovery will come quickly and without consequences. Treatment of the disease in late stages can lead to serious complications and even death.

Diagnostic and therapeutic measures

Only a doctor can answer how to treat herpes on the head. When the first symptoms appear, you should consult a therapist, virologist, neurologist or dermatologist. An experienced specialist, based on examining the patient and collecting anamnesis, will be able to accurately make a diagnosis. However, sometimes it is necessary to analyze the liquid from the vesicles for virus typing.

It is impossible to cure the disease completely. Therapeutic goals are stopping the spread of the virus, relieving symptoms, reducing the number of exacerbations, minimizing the risks of complications.

The main group of drugs used for any herpetic disease is antiviral. The most effective for herpes on the head are tablets and capsules. Local treatment with ointments, creams, and gels is complicated by the presence of hair. Valaciclovir and Famciclovir are taken by adults at 500 mg three times a day for 7-10 days.

For the treatment of children over one year of age, Acyclovir is prescribed at a dose of 100-200 mg three times a day (course of treatment for no more than 5 days).

Acyclovir ointment and Fenistil Pencivir cream will help increase the effectiveness of treatment of herpes on the head in the hair. Apply a thin layer of the product at least 5 times a day to the affected skin. To do this, you need to comb your hair well, parting it and carefully lubricate all the bubbles. It is often very difficult to apply ointments and creams for herpes on the head (especially if you have long, thick hair), because of this, the course of the pathology is aggravated.

Ibuprofen and Paracetamol will help relieve pain, eliminate fever, and body aches. To relieve itching, burning, and swelling, take tablets with antihistamine action Tavegil, Suprastin.

You should not wash your hair often, using baby shampoo without fragrances, dyes and other harmful ingredients. After the procedure, the wounds are treated with local antiseptics (Chlorhexidine, Miramistin).

At the stage of formation of ulcers, Fukortsin and Diamond Green are used to prevent the entry of bacterial microflora.

When crusts have formed, it is effective to lubricate them with Erythromycin ointment - this will speed up the healing process. You can also use Levomekol, Solcoseryl.

Children and pregnant women are prescribed zinc ointment for herpes, which is the safest and no less effective.

Some patients are interested in the question: how can herpes on the head be treated with physiotherapy? Viral cells die under the influence of a quartz lamp, ultraviolet rays and laser. These procedures may be included in the course of herpes therapy.

To increase the body's resistance, multivitamins (Vitrum, Vitamineral) are taken. Injections of B vitamins, zinc and calcium preparations are useful.

ethnoscience

Treatment with folk remedies for herpes on the head should only be carried out in parallel with the main medication regimen and after the doctor’s permission.

Chamomile, eucalyptus, calendula, peppermint, string, burdock are effective against any dermatological problems. Rub the affected areas with a cold decoction of herbs.

To relieve the inflammatory process, apply a fresh plantain leaf or a cut of a Kalanchoe or aloe leaf.

A decoction of oak bark and birch buds will help wounds heal faster. Natural oils – roses, rose hips, sea buckthorn – promote speedy healing. Black cumin essential oil activates local immunity, which helps the body fight the virus. In addition, it is very beneficial for hair (contains many vitamins, microelements, fatty acids, phytosterols, tannins). Almond oil reduces the activity of herpesvirus.

Tinctures of eleutherococcus, ginger root, willow bark, and echinacea will help increase immunity.

Basic Rules

The success of therapy depends on several factors, among which the main one is timely access to a doctor. The sooner treatment begins, the better for the patient and his health.

To get a positive result, you must adhere to some rules:

do not self-medicate;
eat right - exclude fried, fatty, salty foods, enrich the diet with fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals, dairy products;
prevent the spread of the virus - wash your hands thoroughly after each contact with affected areas;
a high level of infectiousness necessitates isolation of the patient - personal household items, bedding and bath items;
You need to comb your hair carefully with a wide-toothed comb (pre-treat with a local antiseptic), without touching the skin;
accurately follow all recommendations of the attending physician.

In addition, it is necessary to take a daily walk in the fresh air, and carry out wet cleaning and ventilation at home.

In the typical course, treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis. People with large affected areas, pregnant women, small children, patients with serious pathologies (HIV, AIDS, oncology, hepatitis C, cirrhosis) are subject to hospitalization.

Complications and consequences of the disease

Herpes of the scalp itself is not dangerous, but in the absence of adequate treatment it can provoke the development of a number of complex consequences. The rash from the head can spread to the ears and eyes, which often leads to decreased or complete loss of hearing and vision.

The virus can provoke inflammatory processes in the cells of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), and can lead to paralysis of the body. Paralysis of the respiratory muscles can be fatal.

Deep erosions formed after the opening of the vesicles contribute to the spread of the virus throughout the central nervous system, which provokes the development of encephalitis. With lichen meningoencephalitis, death is recorded in 60% of cases, the remaining patients remain disabled. Inhaling liquid from the bubbles is fraught with the development of herpes pneumonia - a serious pathology of the lungs.

Long-lasting pain in the affected area is called postherpetic trigeminal neuralgia - a disease that negatively affects a person’s psycho-emotional state and performance.

Herpes during pregnancy (primary infection or another outbreak) can provoke arbitrary interruption at any stage, the development of abnormalities of internal organs, and blood poisoning. If a newborn becomes infected from an infected mother, then in most cases the weak body cannot withstand severe intoxication and the child dies.

The consequences of a herpetic infection of the brain are: headache, dizziness, hearing and speech impairment, migraines, memory or mental problems, decreased mental activity and constant weakness. After rehabilitation measures, all these signs disappear.

Restoration of health after suffering from herpes of the brain is carried out in special centers where several doctors work with the patient at once. Typically, a rehabilitation program is developed individually. Its basis is a combination of therapeutic exercises, movement therapy and a course of physiotherapy. Over time, it is possible to restore joint function and get rid of muscle weakness and pain.

Changes that are difficult to treat occur rarely and are observed in patients who neglect the doctor’s recommendations during treatment, abuse alcohol, or suffer from constant mental overload.

If you do not seek medical help in a timely manner, there is a risk of developing pathological complications in the form of:

epilepsy;
personality disorders;
decreased mental abilities;
paralysis

These changes are caused by structural changes in the brain, which makes them resistant to treatment. The lack of adequate treatment for herpes brain causes death in 80% of cases.

Traditional treatment and prevention

It is practically impossible to protect yourself or your child from infection. The main preventive goal is to control the virus, which is already embedded in nerve cells.

A healthy lifestyle, hardening, giving up bad habits, the right balance of work and rest, good nutrition, a stable emotional state - points without which it is not possible to create reliable, lasting immunity.

It is very important to treat all diseases in a timely manner and not to forget that many of them can be asymptomatic. In order to identify them, you need to undergo preventive examinations with doctors every six months.

Maintaining personal hygiene, keeping the house clean, and taking your health seriously is the key to effectively increasing the body’s resistance to any disease.

Herpes of the head is an insidious pathology that can provoke the development of complications that threaten health and even life. You need to treat it extremely responsibly; when the first symptoms appear, seek medical help. Only timely and correct treatment can remove the virus from the active stage without consequences and keep it under control.

Exposure to the incurable herpes simplex virus causes not only the well-known and relatively harmless cold sores, shingles and chickenpox, but also such a serious disease as herpes brain. Untimely treatment leads to the death of the patient.

Symptoms of pathology

Brain herpes is considered a complication of a previous herpes infection. Among all types of encephalitis, herpes brain accounts for about 11% of cases. The causative agent of the disease is strains 1 and 2 of the herpes simplex virus. The first type of HHV enters the meninges through the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs or the surface of the skin. The microorganism follows the cells into the central nervous system and destroys brain cells. The second type of virus enters the body through sexual contact.

Symptoms of herpetic encephalitis are more common in children under 6 years of age and the elderly. The disease is more often diagnosed in the spring. The presence of the virus remains hidden until a certain time. The immune system protects healthy cells, including neurons, from the active division of herpes.

The development of encephalitis, as a complication of infection, can occur:

as a result of traumatic brain injury;
after a stroke;
due to disorders in the body associated with a significant decrease in the immune system;
after diseases caused by a virus (herpes zoster, genital, facial) against a background of weakened immunity.

Symptoms of the disease may vary slightly depending on the extent of damage to the brain tissue. With herpes brain there are two options:

Focal tissue damage. When the virus affects a limited area of gray matter.
Diffuse inflammation. In this case, the entire brain is destroyed, including the white matter, or a large area of brain tissue in diameter.

Diffuse brain damage occurs mainly in newborns or young children infected with the herpes virus. The virus most often actively multiplies in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, and occasionally the disease affects the area that controls breathing and heartbeat.

Symptoms of cerebral encephalitis depend on the extent and location of the lesion. Common signs of inflammation include:

Symptoms of herpes brain are difficult for children to tolerate. Due to swelling of the brain, the child suffers from seizures, convulsions, and headaches. Children lose consciousness, refuse food, and begin to become disoriented in time and space. Patients with herpes of the temporal lobe of the brain exhibit:

disturbances in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus;
problems with limb control;
Hallucinations and delusions occur.

Slurred speech, memory lapses, pressure surges, squinting or blurred vision are typical symptoms of inflammation of brain tissue.

Treatment of herpetic infection must be started immediately, otherwise patients fall into a coma, from which they rarely emerge healthy.

Treatment methods and complications

The first symptoms of encephalitis require immediate hospitalization of the patient. It is impossible to determine a herpes infection by external signs. In order to prescribe the correct treatment, you need to conduct a diagnosis.

The set of mandatory procedures includes:

magnetic resonance imaging to determine the area and localization of inflamed areas;
PCR diagnostics to detect the DNA of the herpes virus (if 10 days have passed since the onset of the disease);
detailed blood test.

Drug therapy

After detecting the causative agent of the disease, its variety, treatment is prescribed. The patient is admitted to the intensive care unit because there is a high probability of respiratory failure. As a rule, the basic medicine is the antiviral drug Acyclovir or its derivatives. The medicine is administered intravenously in large doses. Treatment lasts at least a week, therapy can be extended up to two weeks.

Other groups of drugs are used in parallel:

Possible consequences

It is most difficult to treat newborns with herpes of the brain. In most cases, babies are born premature, with reduced muscle tone, and weak. Herpetic encephalitis leads to the formation of cysts in the temporal and frontal lobes. More than half of children die due to rapidly developing cerebral edema. If the child survives, the herpes infection leads to the development of dementia and epilepsy.

Herpes simplex type 1 or 2, when the microorganism penetrates the brain cells, causing an inflammatory process. This inflammation of the central nervous system caused by herpes viruses is called herpetic encephalitis, or colloquially - herpes brain .

Herpetic encephalitis most often develops in young children or in newborns infected with the virus from their mother. Herpes of the brain can develop both in response to the initial penetration of the virus into the body, and may represent an exacerbation of asymptomatic virus carriage. In children, herpetic encephalitis most often represents a primary process when the virus enters the body for the first time in life. The herpes virus, once on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, penetrates the branches of the nerves, and then moves along them, reaching the structures of the brain. Once in the brain, the virus leads to the development of herpetic encephalitis.

In older people, herpetic encephalitis is not a primary process. That is, once a person was infected with a herpes virus, which became active and gradually penetrated the structures of the brain.

Currently, the exact causes and routes of penetration of the herpes virus into the brain have not been established.

Herpetic encephalitis is characterized by an acute febrile onset, the appearance of seizures and impaired consciousness. Inflammation of the brain develops after a short acute respiratory illness. In addition to these general symptoms, paresis of the oculomotor nerves, hemiparesis and speech disorder appear.

In the cerebrospinal fluid with herpetic encephalitis, the number of lymphocytes increases to 30 - 400 G/l and the protein concentration increases to 1.32 g/l. However, these changes in the composition of the cerebrospinal fluid appear only after 3–5 days from the onset of the disease. In a general blood test, an increase in the total number of leukocytes and band neutrophils is noted, and the number of lymphocytes also decreases. In addition, ESR is increased, as with any other inflammatory process.

If the course of encephalitis is unfavorable, the person falls into a coma, which can be fatal. If herpetic encephalitis is not treated with antiviral drugs, then the mortality rate from this infection is 70 - 75%. However, even with the correct and timely use of antiviral drugs, 20–25% of people who develop herpetic encephalitis die.

After recovery, a large number of people experience residual effects in the form of seizures or mental impairment. Infants may develop hydrocephalus or complete melting of the cerebral cortex.

Diagnosing herpetic encephalitis is quite difficult because there are no specific signs. And identifying the viral nature of encephalitis is necessary in order to begin proper treatment in a timely manner. Currently, in order to diagnose herpetic encephalitis, virus detection using PCR in a biopsy of the brain or cerebrospinal fluid is used.

Treatment of herpetic encephalitis is carried out in an intensive care unit due to the high risk of developing respiratory disorders. The main drug for the treatment of encephalitis is acyclovir (Zovirax, Virolex, etc.), which is administered in the form of intravenous injections. In addition, interferon drugs and other immunostimulants are used to enhance the immune response and help the body cope with the herpes virus. In order to suppress inflammation, it is necessary to use glucocorticoids - Dexamethasone, Cortisone, etc.