West Nile Virus is a virus often carried by mosquitoes. As a result, the majority of North American West Nile Virus cases occur in the summer. 1 in 5 West Nile Virus victims end up with symptoms of the disease. About 1 out of every 150 cases of West Nile Virus evolve into dangerous, life threatening conditions. There are currently no vaccines for the prevention of the disease or medications to cure it. There are medications that can be taken to ease the symptoms of the disease, but there is no way to get rid of it besides overcoming the disease on your own.
Luckily, most sufferers do survive. Aside from mosquitoes, one of the ways that the virus transmits is through the carcasses of dead birds. It is advisable to stay away from both if you do not want to catch anything. Mosquito control is one solution proposed to limit the spread of West Nile Virus. This can be done on broad scales or in individual homes. While there is no way to cure it, you should contact your healthcare provider if you have any of the ten following symptoms.
1. Fever
One of the more common symptoms that sees its onset early into the spread of West Nile Virus is fever. The term fever is also sometimes called pyrexia or hyperthermia. Hyperthermia is not usually a fatal condition, but it can be severely damaging or fatal to young children or the elderly. A baby is considered to have hyperthermia when their temperature raises above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, while a child is considered to have it at 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit. An adult has it at 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Fevers oftentimes come with other conditions like sweating, aching, and having chills. It is not uncommon for people with hyperthermia to sweat in their sleep.
You can check your temperature to see if you are exhibiting symptoms by inserting a thermometer orally, rectally, or under your armpit. Hyperthermia often begins to set in early in the stages of West Nile Virus, from three days to two weeks in. Some may suffer from hyperthermia throughout the whole duration of their bout of WNV. Hyperthermia is often present alongside other symptoms of WNV, and if you experience multiple symptoms you should definitely contact your physician. Also always make sure to get babies and children exhibiting the symptom treatment quickly.
2. Headaches
Headaches are also early signs of West Nile Virus (WNV). They are pains in the head, oftentimes more specifically involving pain directly behind the eyes and a sensitivity to sources of light. Headaches often arrive around the same early timeframe as fever when brought on by WNV. Headaches can be relieved by over the counter pain reducers, but they oftentimes do not go away until the victim of WNV gets over the disease. They may be more severe than usual and the person suffering them may be in too much pain to do many daily tasks.
3. Body Aches
Body aches are aching pains across the torso and potentially limbs. WNV sufferers that have body aches may find themselves needing to take pain killers to relieve the pain. While this may ease this particular symptom, it by no means cures the disease and is by no means a temporary solution. They may come along with tremors and headaches and often present themselves early into the onset of the virus. Body aches alone are not a strong indicator of WNV, but when present alongside other symptoms, they are a reason for concern. If you are experiencing body aches, be sure to consult your doctor.
4. Skin Rashes
One of the more unsightly symptoms of WNV is skin rashes. The skin rashes that WNV causes are characterized by red dots or blotches. The rash is the result of the skin infection that comes along with the disease. In North America, rashes from WNV are most common during the summer, which is when most mosquitos are out. While mosquitos are not the only medium through which WNV can travel, they are the most prevalent. West Nile Virus rashes are distinct and do not look exactly like some other common rashes. While rashes are common, if a rash occurs alongside other early warning signs like hyperthermia, it is a good idea to contact your doctor.
5. Swollen Lymph Nodes
Another common symptom of West Nile Virus is swollen lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are tiny bean shaped nodes that are located in several places around the body including under the armpits and near throat below the chin. The purpose of lymph nodes is to transfer waste and nutrients around the body and aid the immune system. Swollen lymph nodes are generally a good indicator that something is wrong with your immune system, but also appear as symptoms of other diseases or alongside symptoms like sore throats. They can be painful and if they occur in your body it is a good idea to get help.
6. Stiff Neck
One peculiar symptom of WNV is having a stiff neck. Having a stiff neck is a more serious symptom of WNV, as it is emblematic of West Nile encephalitis. This is when the West Nile infection spreads to the brain and begins to break down neurological processes. This is often a fatal condition, and a stiff neck is just one of the symptoms that may occur when this infection happens. This should be taken very seriously and you should contact medical professionals immediately if you find that you have a stiff neck, especially if you have previously experienced other symptoms of WNV.
7. Sleepiness
Sleepiness as a result of WNV is often an indicator of West Nile encephalitis. The brain begins to have trouble staying in its proper state of consciousness, and the sufferer of WNV may begin to suddenly feel drowsy. Sleepiness in a WNV patient is far more alarming than drowsiness as a result of general fatigue because it signals the future shutdown of the brain as a result of the disease. While West Nile encephalitis is more rare than other forms of West Nile infections, it can stem from any case of WNV, and is the reason that early infections should be taken so seriously.
8. Disorientation
Disorientation is related to sleepiness as a neurological symptom of West Nile encephalitis. As the brain begins to shut down as a result of the infection, various symptoms appear in the behavior of the individual. Disorientation is a general feeling of confusion with normal circumstances. When a patient with WNV begins to feel generally disoriented or suffer from bouts of disorientation, it is likely that they have progressed in their disease and it is already starting to affect their brain. The condition should be taken very seriously as it may result in death.
9. Coma
An unfortunate symptom of WNV and, more specifically, West Nile encephalitis, is slipping into a coma. A comatose state is a state of prolonged unconsciousness that is not death. They are often the result of damage in the brain, and this is in fact what causes them in cases of West Nile encephalitis. Having a loved one in a coma is always a very troubling and uncertain time, and it goes without saying that comas should be taken very seriously in the context of West Nile encephalitis. Entering a comas is essentially the worst symptom that you can have up until death.
10. Tremors
Tremors are random involuntary convulsions in the body that are symptomatic of West Nile encephalitis. They are another sign of decaying neurological function. Body tremors can be painful or happen at inconvenient times that put patients in dangerous positions. They should be taken very seriously in people who have contracted a form of West Nile Virus. While there are medications that can help with them, the tremors are often the result of brain damage and decay and may not leave the sufferer until their death. If you experience them, be sure to contact medical professionals.
