West Nile Virus
Overview
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Symptoms
Most people with WNV have no symptoms. About 20% of the people who become infected with WNV develop flu-like symptoms such as:
- Fever and chills
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rash
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Eye inflammation— conjunctivitis
Symptoms may appear within 2-6 days and can last from a few days to several weeks.
A small number of people with WNV will develop serious, neurological symptoms. These symptoms may include:
- High fever
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Disorientation
- Stupor
- Tremors
- Vision loss
- Severe muscle weakness
- Paralysis
- Coma
These serious symptoms need immediate medical care.
Diagnosis
In addition to taking your medical history and doing a physical exam, your doctor will ask you:
- What kind of symptoms you are experiencing
- Where you have been living or traveling to
- Whether you have been exposed to mosquitoes
A blood test is commonly used to confirm the diagnosis of WNV. Depending on the symptoms that you have, your doctor may order other tests, such as:
- MRI scan
- Lumbar puncture to evaluate the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord
Treatments
Treatment
Treatment for WNV focuses on supportive care. Depending on your symptoms your doctor may recommend:
- Pain relievers
- Antiemetics to reduce nausea and vomiting
If you are dehydrated, you may need to drink an oral rehydration solution or have fluid delivered through an IV.
Treatment for severe symptoms may include:
- Mechanical ventilation
- Medication to control seizures
- Medication to decrease brain swelling
Prevention
The best preventive measure is to avoid mosquito bites. Prevention steps include:
- Avoid outdoor activities at dawn or dusk.
- Wear long pants and long-sleeve shirts when outdoors.
- Use an insect repellent with DEET.
- Repair screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house.
- Use proper mosquito netting at night. Look for netting treated with insecticide.
- Remove standing water to prevent mosquito breeding. Empty items like bird baths and gutters around your house.
Mosquitoes pick up the WNV by biting infected birds. If you see a dead bird, call the public health department. Do not touch the dead bird unless you are wearing disposable gloves.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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All rights reserved.
RESOURCES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov
Infectious Diseases Society of America http://www.idsociety.org
References
Mosquito avoidance. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115142/Mosquito-avoidance . Updated November 21, 2016. Accessed December 7, 2017.
West Nile virus infection. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114644/West-Nile-virus-infection . Updated November 6, 2017. Accessed December 7, 2017.
West Nile virus: What you need to know. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html. Updated December 5, 2017. Accessed December 7, 2017.