Everything you need to know about West Nile virus

Causes

The leading cause of this virus is the bite of infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes contract this virus when they bite an infected bird, and they transmit it to humans when they bite them. It is noteworthy that this condition is not contagious, and it is not transmitted between humans.

Symptoms of West Nile virus

In most cases, infected people do not show any symptoms. However, some symptoms appear in about 20% of people to whom the virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. The most prominent of these symptoms are:

• Fever.
• Headache.
• Body aches.
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Skin rash on the abdomen and back.
• Swollen lymph nodes.

There is a more severe group of symptoms that affect older people, and they appear when the virus penetrates the blood-brain barrier, which leads to symptoms such as:

• Severe headache.
• Stiffness in the neck.
• Extreme lethargy and inability to react to any external stimuli.
• Disorientation.
• Tremors.
• Severe muscle weakness.
• Convulsions.
• Coma.
• Paralysis.

Possible Complications of West Nile Virus

Serious complications appear in less than 1% of those infected, about 1in 150 infected people. The most common complications are swelling of the nervous system, i.e., the brain and spine, meningitis, and encephalitis.

Long-term symptoms of West Nile fever

• Memory loss.
• Hearing loss.
• Difficulty walking.
• Severe muscle weakness.
• Abnormal reflexes.
• Depression.

Risk factors

Some people are more susceptible to long-term symptoms and complications of this virus, such as:

• People over sixty.
• Pregnant women.
• Cancer patients.
• People with diabetes.
• Kidney patients.
• People with high blood pressure.

Diagnosis

Suppose your doctor suspects that you have contracted this virus. In that case, he will conduct blood tests and an examination of the cerebrospinal fluid to confirm the presence of antibodies or any other signs indicating the infection with West Nile virus. If symptoms indicate inflammation in the brain, the doctor will order a CT scan and an MRI of the brain.

Treatment

There is no vaccination, treatment, or antiviral medication for this virus. Symptoms can only be treated with fever-reducing and pain-relieving medications. If there are neurological symptoms, you must go to the hospital for the necessary monitoring and treatment. At the hospitals, the doctors will relieve inflammation and swelling of the brain through:

• Use anti-seizure and anti-convulsive medications, if present.
• Oxygen and breathing machines to treat breathing difficulties.
• Intravenous fluids to avoid dehydration.
• Using cortisone to reduce swelling and inflammation.

The immune system can usually fight this virus and get rid of it without medical interventions within days or weeks. However, if the immune system is compromised due to aging or the presence of other diseases, the possibility of the nervous system developing complications increases, which may require hospitalization for treatment.

Prevention

In the absence of vaccination for this fever, public health experts recommend taking the following measures to avoid contracting West Nile virus:

• Use mosquito repellents on your body and clothes; these are usually sold at the pharmacy and are made from safe, natural materials and essential oils such as eucalyptus. Reapply mosquito repellents after swimming and being outside for a few hours.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts to cover the largest area of ​​the body.
• If there are mosquitoes or spending time outside, it is preferable to wear long pants to cover the legs completely.
• Do not leave any water collecting in your garden or balcony to avoid mosquitoes gathering. Mosquitoes prefer stagnant pools of water to lay eggs.

Bottom Line,

Mosquitoes are annoying insects, and their bite is painful and itchy. But sometimes, they may carry viruses and transmit diseases such as West Nile. Fortunately, more than 80% of those infected with this virus do not show symptoms, and the incidence of serious complications is minimal. It is essential to avoid mosquito bites and see a doctor if unusual symptoms appear after being bitten, such as a fever. It is vital to go to the hospital immediately if any symptoms related to the nervous system, such as convulsions, occur. So far, there is no vaccination to prevent this virus nor medicine to treat it, and the best way to avoid it is to prevent mosquito bites as much as possible.