The first case of isolation from human blood of the West Nile virus was recorded in 1937 in Uganda. Further studies have shown that the causative agent of this disease is a representative of the flavovirus group. Most often, this disease affects residents of the Mediterranean countries (especially Egypt and Israel), India, Indonesia, Corsica. The presence of natural foci of the disease in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Astrakhan, Volgograd, Omsk and Odessa regions has also been proven.
Carriers of the disease are insects, most often mosquitoes and ticks. How can you tell if a person has West Nile fever? The symptoms of the disease will largely depend on the form of the disease.
General symptoms
The incubation period of fever in its different forms proceeds differently. Moreover, about 80% of those infected do not experience any symptoms at all. Some patients report weakness and poor appetite. Almost always, a person infected with the virus suffers from diarrhea or vomiting. In other words, histhe condition is characterized by pronounced general intoxication. There are 3 forms of this disease.
Neuroinfectious form
West Nile fever, the symptoms of which occur in the largest number of patients, is called neuroinfectious. It is characterized by the following manifestations:
- chill;
- weakness;
- vomiting non-meal several times a day;
- arthralgia;
- toxic encephalopathy (manifested in severe headaches, dizziness, hallucinations, tremors, etc.).
The disease lasts from 7-10 days to several weeks. However, it is noted that even after some time, a person may feel weakness, insomnia, depression, and even memory impairment.
Flu-like form
How does West Nile flu manifest itself? Its symptoms are in many ways similar to those of many viral infections:
- chill;
- pain in the eyeballs;
- conjunctivitis;
- cough;
- liquid stool;
- enlarged liver and spleen;
- meningismus.
Exanthematous form
The rarest kind of disease course. This is West Nile fever, the symptoms of which may also include the appearance of various types of rash, such as roseola or scarlet fever. The most characteristic manifestations of this form:
- catarrhal manifestations;
- fever;
- soreness of the lymph nodes.
FeverWest Nile: Diagnosis and Prevention
Manifestations of this disease are in many ways similar to the symptoms of other flavoviruses, so routine blood and urine tests are not enough for this. It can be detected by donating blood for PCR or viral antigens. Despite the fact that the course of the disease is benign and characterized by an almost complete absence of residual effects, it is easier to avoid than to treat.
Prevention of West Nile fever includes a number of activities aimed primarily at protecting against mosquito bites (wearing long sleeves, using “repellent” chemicals) and destroying their potential nests (cleaning ditches, sewage pools).
