In case you or any of your relatives thinks that you may have contracted the West Nile Virus Disease, do not hesitate to seek medical assistance from a health care provider. At present, no specific therapeutic measures for West Nile virus are available.

Nevertheless, they recommend staying home, drinking fluids, and taking pain relief medications purchased without a prescription as effective ways of controlling the symptoms.
Symptoms
In fact, approximately eighty percent of West Nile virus infected people do not present any symptoms.
Around twenty percent of the individuals however, may present with a febrile illness with fever and other symptoms such as headache, myalgia, arthralgia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or rashes. Though, most of the patients with febrile ailments due to West Nile virus make a complete recovery, malaise and weakness can linger for long even weeks or months.
In a small number of cases which is approximately one in every one hundred and fifty cases, West Nile virus infection may lead to a serious central nervous system illness. Such illnesses include encephalitis and meningitis.
Recognizing the symptoms of severe illness is crucial for timely medical intervention. These symptoms can manifest as a high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis.
While severe illness can affect individuals of all ages, those over 60 are at an elevated risk, with a 1 in 50 chance of experiencing severe complications upon infection. Furthermore, individuals with pre-existing medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, or those who have undergone organ transplants also face a heightened risk.
Recovery from severe illness can be a prolonged process, potentially taking several weeks or even months. In some cases, the effects of severe illness may be permanent. The mortality rate for individuals who develop severe central nervous system complications is approximately 1 in 10.
Diagnosis
Seeking medical advice is very important if you are feeling unwell or someone close to you believes they may have contracted the West Nile virus.
When diagnosing West Nile Virus, healthcare professionals look at a number of things; these include the clinical signs and symptoms, the potential for mosquito bite exposure and the laboratory testing of blood or cerebrospinal fluid.
They will look for signs in the patient and ask whether he or she has recently been in contact with any individuals carrying the virus. In addition, this may involve blood tests or analyzing the spinal fluid to identify WNV or rule out other viruses that may cause similar clinical features. Providers who are seeking specific information on diagnostic methods are encouraged to refer to the Healthcare Providers section on our site.
Treatment
At present, there is no targeted medication that can treat or eradicate the West Nile virus. The reason is that antibiotics, which are effective in treating bacterial infections, cannot be used against all viruses including the West Nile virus.
Therefore patients who contract this virus often will alleviate the symptoms that follow. Rest, drinking plenty of water and over-the-counter analgesics will suffice. However, in cases of serious illness, patients may require hospitalization. Such patients are on supportive care that includes intravenous fluids, analgesics and nursing care available at all hours.
To learn about West Nile Virus treatment options in detail, please go to our Healthcare Providers page.
Immunity
The vast majority of individuals who contract the West Nile virus develop lasting immunity, shielding them from future infections.
Certain individuals with compromised immune systems, possibly due to underlying health conditions or medications, may not generate a robust immune response to the initial infection. Alternatively, their immunity could diminish over time. Nevertheless, for the majority of people, infection with West Nile virus provides enduring protection against reinfection.
The West Nile virus is mainly transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. This article provides crucial information about regions susceptible to the virus, the health complications it can cause, and effective strategies to minimize your risk of infection.