West Nile fever

Introduction: West Nile fever

West Nile fever: In the early summer of 1999, cases of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and death began to appear in New York City. Researchers later ... more about West Nile fever.

West Nile fever: Mosquito-borne infectious virus. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of West Nile fever is available below.

Symptoms of West Nile fever

• Mild symptoms
• Fever
• Headache
• Body aches
• Skin rash

See full list of 22 symptoms of West Nile fever

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to West Nile fever:

• Cold & Flu: Home Testing:
  • Home Fever Tests
  • Home Ear Infection Tests
  • Home Flu Tests

Medical Textbooks Online about West Nile fever

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with West Nile fever?

• Misdiagnosis of West Nile fever
• Underlying causes of West Nile fever (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Misdiagnosis and West Nile fever

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Read more about Misdiagnosis and West Nile fever

Causes of West Nile fever

Read more about causes of West Nile fever.

More information about causes of West Nile fever:

• West Nile fever as a complication caused by other conditions
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of West Nile fever

Videos for West Nile fever

Patient Surveys for West Nile fever

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your West Nile fever
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Prognosis for West Nile fever

More about prognosis of West Nile fever

Reseach about West Nile fever

Visit our research pages for current research about West Nile fever treatments.

Clinical Trials for West Nile fever

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for West Nile fever include:

• An Exploratory Study of AVI-4020 in Patients With Possible Acute Neuroinvasive West Nile Virus (WNV) Disease - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - AVI-4020 Injection
• Vaccine to Prevent West Nile Virus Disease - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - VRC-WNVDNA017-00-VP
• Phase I Study of West Nile Virus Vaccine - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - VRC-WNVDNA020-00-VP
• Safety of and Immune Response to a West Nile Virus Vaccine (WN/DEN4-3'delta30) in Healthy Adults - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)

Read more about Clinical Trials for West Nile fever

Prevention of West Nile fever

Prevention information for West Nile fever has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of West Nile fever.

• Avoid mosquito bites
• Mosquito repellant
• Protective clothing
• Window screens
• See also prevention of mosquito bites

Read more about prevention of West Nile fever

Statistics for West Nile fever

• Medical statistics for West Nile fever
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for West Nile fever
• Death and Mortality statistics for West Nile fever
• Society statistics for West Nile fever

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about West Nile fever, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

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Article Excerpts about West Nile fever

Microbes in Sickness and in Health - Publications, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: NIAID (Excerpt)

In the early summer of 1999, cases of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and death began to appear in New York City. Researchers later identified West Nile virus as the cause. Prior to that time, health care experts had never seen cases of illness caused by this virus in the United States. The virus is common in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which may circulate the virus in their blood for a few days. Infected mosquitoes can then transmit West Nile virus to humans and animals while biting to take blood. Every summer since it first appeared, West Nile virus has been found in a continuously increasing number of states. (Source: excerpt from Microbes in Sickness and in Health - Publications, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: NIAID)

West Nile virus: Background: DVBID (Excerpt)

West Nile (WN) virus has emerged in recent years in temperate regions of Europe and North America, presenting a threat to public, equine, and animal health. The most serious manifestation of WN virus infection is fatal encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in humans and horses, as well as mortality in certain domestic and wild birds. (Source: excerpt from West Nile virus: Background: DVBID)

Definitions of West Nile fever:

A mosquito-borne viral illness caused by the WEST NILE VIRUS, a FLAVIVIRUS and endemic to regions of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Common clinical features include HEADACHE, FEVER, maculopapular rash, gastrointestinal symptoms, and lymphadenopathy. MENINGITIS; ENCEPHALITIS; and MYELITIS may also occur. The disease may occasionally be fatal or leave survivors with residual neurologic deficits. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1996, Ch26, p13; Lancet 1998 Sep 5;352(9130):767-71) - (Source - Diseases Database)

West Nile fever is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that West Nile fever, or a subtype of West Nile fever, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)