A Short Guide to West Nile Virus Symptoms
Posted by Medical Fan - 24/12/08 at 08:12 amA Short Guide to West Nile Virus Symptoms
Once only confined to certain areas and continents, the West Nile virus has now taken to affecting citizens in places where it once did not exist. How is this disease spread and how will you know if you have it?
From infected animals, the West Nile virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Once this occurs, it can take anywhere from 5 to 15 days before symptoms appear.
West Nile virus symptoms include general complaints like fever, fatigue and loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Swollen lymph nodes, which indicate the presence of an infection, may be seen in some patients. Headache, sore throat, muscle and joint pains, and back ache may also occur. Rashes may also be seen on the patient, especially in his trunks and extremities.
In a lot of cases though, West Nile virus symptoms may be too mild to be noticeable or are absent entirely. And because this disease is generally self-limiting, it usually requires no medical attention other than for the alleviation of troublesome symptoms and to prevent other infections from creeping in.
However, in more severe cases of the disease, usually among the elderly, West Nile virus symptoms include symptoms of nervous system involvement, like seizures, extreme muscle weakness, paralysis, aversion to light and changes in the person’s consciousness. Other signs of brain inflammation or encephalitis, such as a stiff neck, may also be present. Presence of these symptoms warrants a stay in the hospital to improve the patient’s condition. This disease, however, is very rarely fatal.