Can West Nile cause neurological problems?

Can West Nile cause neurological problems?

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause severe neurological disease in those infected. Those surviving infection often present with long-lasting neurological changes that can severely impede their lives. The most common reported symptoms are depression, memory loss, and motor dysfunction.

Can West Nile virus cause autoimmune disease?

Conclusions: Our case indicates that West Nile Virus infections can trigger autoimmune encephalitis. Our finding expands the spectrum of autoimmune conditions that can develop following an infection.

Which nervous system disorder can be caused by West Nile virus?

Serious infection signs and symptoms In less than 1% of infected people, the virus causes a serious nervous system (neurological) infection. This may include inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).

What are 3 signs of West Nile virus?

What are the symptoms of West Nile virus?

• Fever.
• Headache.
• Body aches.
• Skin rash on trunk of body.
• Swollen lymph glands.

Does West Nile cause demyelination?

West Nile Virus Peripheral Nerve Involvement In 1 series of 64 patients with WNV infection, 3 patients had mixed axonal degenerating and demyelinating processes, and 1 had a pure demyelinating neuropathy (Pepperell et al., 2003).

What are the long-term effects of West Nile virus?

The most common long-term effects are depression, tremors, fatigue, memory problems, extremity weakness, word-finding difficulty and headaches. Since WNV arrived in North America in 1999, it has become the most common arboviral infection in the continent.

Does West Nile virus cause brain damage?

Experts who work on the mosquito-borne West Nile virus have long known that it can cause serious neurological symptoms, such as memory problems and tremors, when it invades the brain and spinal cord.

How is West Nile virus diagnosis?

Laboratory diagnosis is generally accomplished by testing of serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to detect WNV-specific IgM antibodies. Immunoassays for WNV-specific IgM are available commercially and through state public health laboratories.

Can West Nile cause brain damage?

Aug. 18, 2006 — Even mild West Nile fever often leaves patients with long-lasting fatigue, depression, weakness, tremor, and other symptoms of brain damage.

Does West Nile virus stay with you forever?

Can people have persistent infection with West Nile virus? The findings of this study suggest that, in some people, West Nile virus may persist in the kidneys. There have been a few reports of persistent West Nile virus found in brain, spinal fluid, and blood of people who were immunocompromised.

What are the long-term symptoms of West Nile virus?

What part of the brain does West Nile affect?

Several patients also showed signs of cognitive deterioration, such as short- and long-term memory loss beyond what normally would be expected for their age. Researchers conducted MRIs of the brain in 30 of those patients and found the damage or thinning in different parts of the cerebral cortex.

Which of the following is used to diagnose West Nile encephalitis?

What body systems are affected by West Nile virus?

West Nile virus (WNV) is a potentially serious illness that can attack the nervous system of animals and humans. The virus interferes with normal central nervous system functioning and causes inflammation of brain tissue.

What are the long term symptoms of West Nile virus?

Are there long term side effects of West Nile virus?

Which lab abnormality would lead you to suspect West Nile encephalitis in this patient?

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis may reveal elevated protein and increased leukocyte levels, with predominant lymphocytes. Glucose levels are usually normal rather than decreased. Serologic testing to detect immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies is currently the best means of diagnosing West Nile virus infection.