Cases of WNV occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not feel sick. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms.
About 1 out of infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness. You can reduce your risk of WNV by using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent mosquito bites. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. What are the risk factors for West Nile virus?
How is West Nile virus diagnosed? Your doctor will order a blood test to check for antibodies to the West Nile virus. He or she may also do a lumbar puncture to test cerebrospinal fluid for signs of infection. How is West Nile virus treated? Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment based on: How old you are Your overall health and medical history How sick you are How well you can handle specific medications, procedures, or therapies How long the condition is expected to last Your opinion or preference There's no specific treatment for West Nile virus-related diseases.
If a person gets the more severe form of the disease, West Nile encephalitis or meningitis, treatment may include intensive supportive therapy, such as: Hospitalization Intravenous IV fluids Breathing support ventilator Prevention of other infections such as pneumonia or urinary tract infections Nursing care What are the complications of West Nile virus? However, the virus can cause life-threatening illnesses, such as Encephalitis inflammation of the brain Meningitis inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord Meningoencephalitis inflammation of the brain and its surrounding membrane Can West Nile virus be prevented?
If you spray your clothing, there's no need to spray repellent containing DEET on the skin under your clothing. When possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants treated with repellents containing permethrin or DEET since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Don't directly apply repellents containing permethrin to exposed skin. Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening.
These are peak hours for mosquito bites, especially those mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus. Limit the number of places for mosquitoes to lay their eggs by getting rid of standing water sources from around your home. To boost your protection from insect repellent, remember: Sweating, or water may call for reapplication of the product.
If you aren't being bitten, you don't need to reapply repellent. Use enough repellent to cover exposed skin or clothing. Don't apply repellent to skin that's under clothing. Heavy application isn't needed for protection. Don't apply repellent to cuts, wounds, or irritated skin. After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water. Don't spray aerosol or pump products in enclosed areas.
Don't apply aerosol or pump products directly to your face. Spray your hands and then rub them carefully over the face, avoiding your eyes and mouth.
Some experts suggest that it's acceptable to apply repellent with low concentrations of DEET to infants older than age 2 months. For children younger than age 2, only one application per day of repellent containing DEET is recommended.
When using repellent on a child, apply it to your own hands and then rub them on your child. Avoid children's eyes and mouth and use the repellent sparingly around their ears. Don't apply repellent to children's hands because children tend to put their hands in their mouths. Don't allow a young child to apply his or her own insect repellent.
Keep repellents out of reach of children. If your symptoms are severe and brain-related, your physician may order a lumbar puncture.
Also known as a spinal tap, this test involves inserting a needle into your spine to extract fluid. West Nile virus can elevate the white blood cell count in the fluid, which indicates an infection. MRI and other imaging scans can also help detect inflammation and brain swelling. But you can take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, to relieve symptoms of West Nile virus such as muscle aches and headaches.
If you experience brain swelling or other severe symptoms, your doctor may give you intravenous fluids and medications to lower the risk of infections. Research is currently being done on interferon therapy for West Nile virus.
Interferon therapy is aimed at using substances produced by your immune system to treat encephalitis in people infected by West Nile virus. Your doctor may discuss one or more of these treatments with you if you have encephalitis and your symptoms are severe or life-threatening.
West Nile virus is most commonly spread during the summer, especially between June and September. Around 20 percent of infected people will show some fever symptoms, such as headaches, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms usually pass quickly. Some symptoms, such as fatigue, can continue for up to several months after the initial infection.
Fewer than one percent of people who get West Nile virus infections develop severe symptoms or neurological conditions such as meningitis or encephalitis. Of these cases, fewer than 10 percent are fatal. Every mosquito bite increases your risk of infection. These steps can help you prevent West Nile virus each time you are outdoors:.
Mosquito bites are most common in late August to early September. Report any dead birds you see to your local health agency. Dead birds can easily pass the West Nile virus on to mosquitos, which can pass it to humans even with a single bite. If any signs of the virus are found in the area around the bird, the health agency will likely increase pest control activity or pesticide use. Though a vaccine exists to protect horses against West Nile virus, there is no vaccine for people.
Supportive care during a West Nile virus infection, especially a severe one, is important to survival. But immediate and consistent treatment is the best way to make sure that your symptoms remain mild.
This is especially true if you have certain risk factors, such as old age or certain medical conditions. Mosquito bites are round, usually puffy, and severely itchy. Learn about which diseases mosquitos can transmit and how to treat and prevent bites.
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