Nile fever, also known as West Nile disease, is an infectious disease caused by the bite of the Culex mosquito infected with West Nile virus, which causes the disease. Although rare, Nile fever occurs more easily in older people because they have a weaker immune system, facilitating infection and developing signs and symptoms of the disease.
Symptoms of Nile fever may appear about 14 days after the bite of the infected mosquito and can range from transient fever to meningitis, in which the virus reaches and inflames the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and the person may experience muscle pain, headache. and stiffness of the neck.
Signs and symptoms of Nile fever usually appear 3 to 14 days after infection with the virus, and may include:
In the most severe cases, when the disease is not identified and treated or when the person has the weakest immune system, the virus can reach the nervous system and cause complications such as encephalitis, polio and meningitis, mainly characterized by torticollis.
A diagnosis of Nile fever is made by the family doctor or infectious disease by evaluating the signs and symptoms of the person, as well as the result of blood tests, including serological tests, which aim to identify the presence of antigens and antibodies against viruses. .
In addition, your doctor recommends a blood count, in which a decrease in the number of lymphocytes and hemoglobin is normally observed in these cases, in addition to the measurement of C-reactive protein (CR) and the evaluation of CCR. , especially if meningitis is suspected.
Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may order imaging tests to assess the severity of the disease, as a CT scan and MRI are recommended.
There is not yet a specific vaccine or treatment to treat Nile fever or to effectively remove the virus from the body, so the treatment recommended by the doctor is used to alleviate symptoms related to the disease, the use of acetaminophen and metoclopramide may be indicated, for example, which should be taken as recommended by the doctor.
In the most severe cases hospitalization may be necessary, so adequate monitoring is carried out and serum treatment is performed in the vein to hydrate, and the use of machines may also be necessary to help the person breathe.