West nile virus history and symptoms
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
West Nile fever infection can present with a variety of manifestation according to the severity of the diseases. West Nile fever infection has three different clinical presentations in humans: asymptomatic (~70-80%), mild febrile syndrome termed West Nile fever (~20%), and neuroinvasive disease termed West Nile meningitis or encephalitis (<1%).
History
Symptoms
Asymptomatic
Absence of symptoms is present in approximately 80% of subjects infected with the West Nile virus.
West Nile Fever
Constitutional Symptoms
Skin Symptoms
- Skin rash on the trunk of the body
- Swelling of lymph nodes
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Neurovascular Disease
Neurovascular involvement is the most severe form of West Nile virus infection. Patients can present with a variety of manifestation in conjunction with fever such as meningitis, flaccid paralysis, encephalitis or a combination of these conditions.
Shown below is a table of the most common neurological symptoms with their corresponding frequencies.
| Symptom | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Facial palsy | 13% |
| Dysphagia | 33% |
| Dysarthria | 33% |
| Diplopia | 33% |
| Tremor | 22% |
| Parkinsonism | 16% |
| Ataxia | 31% |
| Motor seizures | 5% |
| Myoclonus | 31% |
Constitutional Symptoms
- High fever
- Body aches
West Nile Meningitis
West Nile Meningoencephalitis
Acute Flaccid Paralysis
- Lower limb weakness
Multiorgan Involvement
- Chorioretinitis (100% specificity for identifying West Nile virus infection in patients with possible West Nile virus encephalitis)[1]
- Hepatitis
- Myocarditis
- Nephritis
- Pancreatitis
- Splenomegaly[2][3][4]
References
- ↑ Abroug F, Ouanes-Besbes L, Letaief M, Ben Romdhane F, Khairallah M, Triki H, Bouzouiaia N. "A cluster study of predictors of severe West Nile virus infection." Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2006; 81: 12-16.
- ↑ Perelman A, Stern J. "Acute pancreatitis in West Nile Fever." American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1974; 23: 1150-1152.
- ↑ Omalu B I, Shakir A A, Wang G, Lipkin W I, Wiley C A. "Fatal fulminant pan-meningo-polioencephalitis due to West Nile virus." Brain Pathology 2003; 13: 465-472
- ↑ Mathiot C C, Georges A J, Deubel V. "Comparative analysis of West Nile virus strains isolated from human and animal hosts using monoclonal antibodies and cDNA restriction digest profiles." Res Virol 1990; 141: 533-543.