Question 1

can humans catch west nile encephalitis?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Absolutely,  in recent years west nile virus has been in epidemic mode sweeping from the east coast of the us to the west.  Encephalitis is present only in severe cases.

Question 2

is west nile encephalitis transmitted from person to person?

Accepted Answer

NO, except....: The virus is vector-borne through mosquitoes. However, in a special case featured several years ago in the new england journal of medicine, an article described a case where recipients of organs harvested from a west nile virus-infected donor, became ill with west nile virus.

Question 3

what are the symptoms associated with west nile encephalitis?

Accepted Answer

West nile disease: West nile encephalitis affects about 1 in 150 people who are infected with the virus. It may manifest with fever, stiff neck, headache, confusion, stupor, coma, tremors, seizure, weakness and possibly paralysis.

Question 4

is there a vaccine for treating west nile encephalitis?

Accepted Answer

No: No, there is no west nile vaccine for humans as of yet.

Question 5

does west nile encephalitis always kill you?

Accepted Answer

No: In fact, most people who get wnv infections don't die. Must people who do are the very young, the elderly, the immunocompromised,  or someone with a genetic predisposition. However, a person with an encephalitis that is not appropriately managed supportively, can be at risk of dying if the brain herniates through the bottom of the skull.

Question 6

how often does west nile fever turn into west nile encephalitis?

Accepted Answer

1 in 150: Only 1 in 150 patients infected with the west nile virus develop encephalitis. West nile fever is much more common and is typically a self-limited disease. Individuals more susceptible to developing encephalitis from a west nile infection include the elderly, alcoholics and diabetics.

Question 7

what is recovery rate from west nile virus causing encephalitis?

Accepted Answer

Variable: A case of West Nile virus with encephalitis recover but takes long time , prolonged recuperation and need rehabilitation for a long time . They may have some memory loss  or weakness of limbs

Question 8

encephalitis from west nile virus. what is death rate/cute rate? what treatments are available

Accepted Answer

Hard to say: Some studies have quoted mortality from neuroinvasive cases of wnv ~5%, but this must be a huge overestimate. Maybe 3 in 1000 of all cases are severe (or neuroinvasive), so you might guess less than 1 in 5000 cases die. 
Most of the deaths appear to come in the elderly, chronically ill or immunosuppressed. 
Treatment is mainly supportive (including intubation & ventilation in severe cases).

Question 9

does west nile virus have preventative medication that i can use?

Accepted Answer

No: Our ability to prevent viruses if limited, although vaccine is the best method we have.  The cdc reports a vaccine is being worked on.  In the meantime they have a website that discusses how to prevent mosquito bites.  For how it is the only effective prevention.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm.

Question 10

are there antiviral medication that is effective against west nile virus?

Accepted Answer

No: Case reports using intravenous immunoglobulin (ivig)  and other interventions have been described, but are inconsistent and haven't been scientifically tested. Supportive management is the mainstay of west nile virus infections.

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Doctor answers about:

West nile encephalitis medication

A member asked:

Can humans catch west nile encephalitis?

A member asked:

Is west nile encephalitis transmitted from person to person?

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What are the symptoms associated with west nile encephalitis?

A member asked:

Is there a vaccine for treating west nile encephalitis?

A member asked:

Does west nile encephalitis always kill you?

A member asked:

How often does west nile fever turn into west nile encephalitis?

A member asked:

What is recovery rate from west nile virus causing encephalitis?

A member asked:

Encephalitis from west nile virus. what is death rate/cute rate? what treatments are available

A member asked:

Does west nile virus have preventative medication that i can use?

A member asked:

Are there antiviral medication that is effective against west nile virus?

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