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Pediatric West Nile Virus
West Nile virus can be spread through infected mosquitos that bite the skin. It can sometimes lead to serious complications involving the brain and spinal cord.
What is Pediatric West Nile Virus?
In the majority of cases, the West Nile virus spreads through the bite of a mosquito that is infected with the virus. Many people who contract the virus don’t have any symptoms or complications. However, some people – especially children, the elderly or those with a compromised immune system – can develop life-threatening complications of the spinal cord or brain.
What are the signs and symptoms of Pediatric West Nile Virus?
Mild signs and symptoms
Most people who contract the West Nile virus show no signs of having the illness. In about 20 percent of people who have the virus, mild signs and symptoms include:
- Body aches
- Diarrhea
- Extreme tiredness
- Fever
- Headache
- Skin rash
- Vomiting
Serious signs and symptoms
In less than one percent of those who become infected with the West Nile virus, a serious neurological infection develops. Signs and symptoms of these serious complications include:
- Coma
- Confusion
- Encephalitis
- High fever
- Involuntary muscle jerking
- Meningitis
- Muscle weakness
- Partial paralysis
- Seizures
- Severe headache
- Stiff neck
What are the causes of Pediatric West Nile Virus?
In most cases, an individual contracts West Nile virus through the bite of an infected mosquito. Other – less frequent – ways of spreading the virus include organ transplantation or blood transfusion.