West Nile Encephalitis Symptoms

What is West Nile encephalitis, West Nile Meningitis, or West Nile Meningoencephalitis
In about 1 out of 150 cases of West Nile Virus infection, the virus passes into the brain and inflames the brain linings, causing severe symptoms.

How You Get It
It is spread by mosquito bites and cannot be spread from human to human or animal to human or vice versa. The virus has to incubate inside the mosquito's salivary glands to infect humans and animals.

Incubation Period
Usually 3-14 days after being bitten.

Symptoms
Headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Symptoms of severe disease may last several weeks. The neurological effects may be permanent.

Should I See the Doctor?
If you develop high fever, confusion, muscle weakness or severe headache - see your doctor immediately.

What is the Treatment?
There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus-related diseases, although you must be diagnosed to rule out forms of meningitis such as meningococcal meningitis which can be treated with antibiotics. For the severe cases, the patient may be hospitalized to provide intravenous fluids, keep them breathing, provide good nursing comfort care, and prevent getting other infections such as pneumonia or urinary tract infections.

Am I Contagious?
No. But other forms of meningitis may be contagious and may be treated with antibiotics, so seek medical help immediately to be diagnosed and determine the risk to those exposed to you.

How Do I Protect Myself from Infection?
Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Persons older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.
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Source: Overview of West Nile Virus, US Centers for Disease Control. Last accessed 11/4/2006.
West Nile Virus: What You Need To Know: CDC Fact Sheet. US Centers for Disease Control. Last accessed 11/4/2006.