According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, West Nile Virus (WNV) is a disease mostly transmitted to people by mosquitos. The virus originated from the West Nile region in Uganda and spread throughout the world. In some countries, the virus is prominent during the wet season, which is also the best time for mosquito breeding. In the U.S. several WNV cases have been reported throughout the country.
Studies show that there are no vaccines or medicines designated for this type of virus, but there are medications to alleviate some of its symptoms. It’s usually rare for infected people to show vivid symptoms, however, 1 in 5 may show signs of fever and diarrhea. Also, 1 in 150 people with WNV develop fatal illnesses.
For prevention purposes, people make use of mosquito repellents, nets, and wear long-sleeved clothes. Below listed are 12 serious symptoms of the West Nile virus.
1. Coma
Even though WNV patients don’t usually show any severe symptoms, there are some rare instances where patients show serious and fatal signs. If a patient frequently experiences severe headaches and not get effective treatment, they end up slipping into a coma. This is because some primary causes of severe headaches like meningitis and encephalitis can stimulate the inflammation of tissues around the brain and the spinal cord. The pressure exerted on the tissues can restrict sufficient blood flow to the brain hence losing brain functionality.
Research shows that untreated severe symptoms of WNV have the ability to sustain permanent damage to the patient. Serious symptoms of WNV should not be ignored because they can be treated or monitored if found at an early stage. If a person becomes unresponsive or suddenly unconscious, call an ambulance immediately for early hospitalization. This will decrease the rate of serious damage to the brain.
