What are the first signs of West Nile virus?
Symptoms
- Fever.
- Headache.
- Body aches.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Fatigue.
- Skin rash.
How long does West Nile virus last?
Your body has to fight the infection on its own. In mild cases of West Nile, symptoms usually last for 3 to 6 days, and you can recover at home. If you get a more severe case of West Nile, symptoms can last for weeks or months, and you may need to stay in the hospital so you can get medicine to help you recover.
How is West Nile virus treated?
There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus (WNV) disease; clinical management is supportive. Patients with severe meningeal symptoms often require pain control for headaches and antiemetic therapy and rehydration for associated nausea and vomiting.
Does West Nile virus show up in blood work?
Besides performing a physical exam, your doctor can confirm the presence of West Nile virus or a West Nile-related illness, such as meningitis or encephalitis, by performing one of the following tests: Lab tests. If you’re infected, a blood test may show a rising level of antibodies to the West Nile virus.
How long does it take for symptoms of West Nile virus to show up?
Most people infected with West Nile virus have only mild, flu-like symptoms that last a few days. Symptoms usually appear within 3 to 14 days of infection. About 20% of the people who become infected will develop West Nile fever.
How do you test for West Nile virus?
A diagnosis of West Nile virus can be confirmed using blood tests. Someone who is infected with West Nile virus will have an increased level of antibodies against the disease. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system that attack foreign substances such as viruses, bacteria and other harmful organisms.
How do they test for West Nile in humans?
What are the odds of getting West Nile virus?
The odds of getting the most severe forms of West Nile disease are about one in 150. The overall death rate in severe disease is about 10%.
What age group is most affected by West Nile virus?
Severe illness can occur in people of any age; however, people over 60 years of age are at greater risk. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk.
What are my chances of getting West Nile virus?
The odds of getting the most severe forms of West Nile disease are about one in 150. The overall death rate in severe disease is about 10%. That makes the overall odds of dying from a West Nile infection about one in 1,500. These odds aren’t the same for everyone.
What is the prognosis for West Nile virus?
West Nile Virus Infection Prognosis. Most people fully recover. In others, particularly the elderly and some young children, the disease can progress to cause encephalitis, meningitis, permanent neurological defects, and infrequently, death.
What does West Nile virus do to the body?
Eighty percent of people who are infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms. In those who do develop symptoms—which accounts for about one in five people, per the CDC , West Nile virus in humans can cause fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash.
What is the prognosis of West Nile?
West Nile fever generally has an excellent prognosis. Most WNV infections (60%-75%) are asymptomatic and self-limited.
