The hantavirus is a rare but potentially very serious disease that affects a small number of people every year. It is carried in the bodily fluids of affected mice and rats including in their urine and droppings. The most common way of developing hantavirus is coming in contact with something that has been contaminated by rodent urine. Other cases may have developed when the person came in contact with a fairly large amount of droppings. Cleaning barns, attics or basements where mice have been can stir up dust which will carry the contaminant and can be breathed in with relative ease. If you have broken skin on your hands and touch something that is contaminated, you can be infected as well.
The disease can quickly progress from a flu like illness to a serious, severe pulmonary disease. Nearly 40% of the people who are infected with hantavirus will die from it. That can include people who were relatively healthy before they were infected so it is important to practice prevention first and foremost and to take additional precautions if you even suspect you have been exposed to hantavirus or any other rodent borne illness. Thorough hand washing is only one of these important steps. Monitoring your health and watching for potential symptoms of this disease is another.
Remember, the hantavirus illness will look like the flu when it first appears. If flu-like symptoms appear after exposure it is important that you seek medical help.
1. Fever
A fever is the body’s natural defense and reaction against infections from all sources. The length and severity of the fever may depend on the type of infection but other factors such as overall health and age may play a role too. A mild fever is often just a discomfort but is nothing to worry about. If a fever goes to 104 degrees in a previously healthy person it becomes dangerous and a doctor should be seen right away. In an infant, the fever threshold is much lower with a temperature of 100.4 warranting a need for medical care. Anyone who is already ill especially someone with serious conditions should be seen for a doctor any time there is a fever.
Sometimes a fever (even a mild one) and other symptoms may warn of a potentially serious condition. These symptoms can include headache, rash or a stiff neck especially if any of these are sudden. Unless the fever is causing unbearable discomfort it is better to let it run its course, with careful monitoring in case of any changes. Rest and cool, damp clothes are some of the best comfort measures for fever. Most people with fevers will prefer to stay less active until they are ready to move around once again.
2. Fatigue
Everyone feels “tired” from time to time but fatigue is something much different. Fatigue is the feeling of being not only physically exhausted but mentally drained as well and it can lead to some very serious health conditions if it is not addressed. These include an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, depression and more.
Fatigue typically starts as the result of an illness or event and can be resolved when good health is regained. If it is not resolved it can lead to another condition called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. In a person with hantavirus, the fatigue can start several days after exposure and may continue with the other symptoms.
3. Muscle Weakness
In addition to the fatigue and the feeling of really run down, hantavirus can cause a symptom called muscle weakness. This is when you are using full exertion but your muscle is performing at far less than its full potential. For example, you can pick up a box weighing twenty pounds with relative ease on Monday. By Thursday you are barely able to pick up the same box and you can only carry it a few feet before you put it down.
Unchecked, muscle weakness can develop in to other serious conditions. It is also uncomfortable because the weakened muscles may be more susceptible to cramping and spasms. Trying to stretch them out or soaking in a warm bath might help but should be avoided if you are feverish.
4. Dizziness
Sometimes described as feeling light-headed or woozy, dizziness can be a temporary symptom caused by something as innocent as standing up too quickly or it can be something more serious. A high fever can cause dizziness especially when it starts crossing in to the “too high” territory. Not getting enough oxygen can also cause a feeling of dizziness so if you are having trouble breathing dizziness would not be uncommon. Sometimes you may feel dizzy just before you vomit or if there are stomach related symptoms that are causing you to be weak and dehydrated. Continued dizziness should be evaluated by a doctor. You should not drive if you have ongoing dizziness.
5. Stomach Problems
Some of the most uncomfortable symptoms of any illness will be the vague, stomach problems. Ranging from a mild feeling of gassiness and bloating to full on nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, stomach problems can quickly lead to other issues especially dehydration. It only takes a mild disruption in the fluid levels in your body to become dehydrated. The longer that you are ill, especially with vomiting and diarrhea, the higher the risk of dehydration.
Continued stomach problems prevents your body from getting the nourishment it needs for energy and to fight infections and illnesses which in turn makes you weaker and more susceptible to worsening symptoms.
6. Chills
Everyone has had a temporary feeling they’ve called the “chills”. This symptom is more than simply feeling a bit cold for no reason or getting a slight shiver down your spine. It can come and go quickly or it can come on and remain a problem for an hour or more. It is an uncomfortable sensation of being overwhelmingly cold even when your skin feels warm or hot (with a fever) or if the temperature in the room is fairly warm. In addition to feeling like you will never be warm ever again you may also shiver and shake as your muscles contract and release and small blood vessels dilate in response to the incorrect signal that you are cold.
If you do have chills especially with a fever, resist the urge to bundle up or to get under many heavy blankets as this can raise your body temperature to a dangerous level.
7. Shortness of Breath
Among the most serious symptoms of hantavirus is shortness of breath. Ranging from a mild feeling of not being able to get enough breath to a serious breathing disorder, shortness of breath is typically a symptom that requires immediate medical intervention especially if it has suddenly appeared or it is accompanied by other serious symptoms such as chest pain, nausea (with or without vomiting) feeling dizzy, lightheaded or fainting. If you have any combination of these with shortness of breath you should be driven to the nearest emergency room for immediate evaluation. If you suspect that the condition might be related to the hantavirus, this information should be given to the medical team so that the proper evaluations can be made.
