Chapter 5: TBE in adults

Abstract

TBE is the most important tick-borne arbovirus disease of humans. Epidemiological data indicate a trend towards an increasing severity with higher age. A number of possible genetic and non-genetic risk factors have been identified, which might have an impact on the manifestation and severity of human disease. Different TBEV strains seem to cause differing clinical courses of disease. While the TBE-EU mainly causes a biphasic course, the clinical course of TBEV-FE and TBEV-SIB are mainly monophasic. The diagnosis of TBE is based on serological tests. So far there is no effective treatment of TBEV infections.