Symptoms of the West Nile Virus
The West Nile Virus can cause three different symptoms in human beings. The first is an asymptomatic infection. The second is a mild febrile syndrome named West Nile Fever. The last symptom that human beings can fall victim to is West Nile Menigitis. This is knwon as a neuroinvasive disease.
The second, febrile stage can last anywhere from 2 to 8 days. It inludes fever, headache, chills, excessive sweating, weakness, swollen lymph nodes, drowsiness, pain in the joints and symptoms like those of influenza or the flu. Occasionally there is a short-lived truncal rash and some patients experience gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or diarrhea. Symptoms are generally resolved within 7 to 10 days, although fatigue can persist for some weeks and the swollen lymph nodes can last up to two months.
The more dangerous encephalitis is characterized by similar early symptoms but also a decreased level of consciousness, sometimes approaching near-coma. Encephalitis is the inflammation of the brain. The West Nile Virus can also cause tremors or muscle jerking. The process of recovering from the West Nile Virus is filled with fatigue and will take some time to recuperate to feeling 100%.
As of recent years, new outbreaks have helped new symptoms and outcomes that can possibly be caused by the West Nile Virus. The spinal cord may be infected, marked by anterior myelitis with or without encephalitis. West Nile Virus-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome has been identified as a very rare effect or outcome of the West Nile Virus. Several other rare effects have been identified and they include multifocal chorioretinitis,hepatitis, myocarditis, nephritis, pancreatitis, and splenomegaly.
The second, febrile stage can last anywhere from 2 to 8 days. It inludes fever, headache, chills, excessive sweating, weakness, swollen lymph nodes, drowsiness, pain in the joints and symptoms like those of influenza or the flu. Occasionally there is a short-lived truncal rash and some patients experience gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or diarrhea. Symptoms are generally resolved within 7 to 10 days, although fatigue can persist for some weeks and the swollen lymph nodes can last up to two months.
The more dangerous encephalitis is characterized by similar early symptoms but also a decreased level of consciousness, sometimes approaching near-coma. Encephalitis is the inflammation of the brain. The West Nile Virus can also cause tremors or muscle jerking. The process of recovering from the West Nile Virus is filled with fatigue and will take some time to recuperate to feeling 100%.
As of recent years, new outbreaks have helped new symptoms and outcomes that can possibly be caused by the West Nile Virus. The spinal cord may be infected, marked by anterior myelitis with or without encephalitis. West Nile Virus-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome has been identified as a very rare effect or outcome of the West Nile Virus. Several other rare effects have been identified and they include multifocal chorioretinitis,hepatitis, myocarditis, nephritis, pancreatitis, and splenomegaly.
