West Nile Virus

Search DocQuery

Presentation :

• Most (4 out of 5) patients with West Nile virus infection have no symptoms
• About 1 in 5 develop fever along with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash
• About 1 in 150 patients develop severe central nervous system involvement with encephalitis, meningitis, or flaccid paralysis
  • Symptoms of central nervous system infection include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis

Pathophysiology :

Diagnostic Testing:

• WNV IgM testing of CSF or serum.
  • Note:  polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is not sensitive because the viremia is usually cleared by the time of clinical presentation

Treatment :

• Supportive care

Prognosis:

References: