Nile Fever

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Video: Nile Fever

Video: Nile Fever
Video: Nile Fever 2024, March
Nile Fever
Nile Fever
Anonim

What is Nile fever

Nile fever is an acute infectious disease caused by a virus of the Flaviviridae family. It is defined as an arbovirus infection, which is associated with the diseases yellow fever, dengue and others, in which the spreaders of the infection are mosquitoes, and the clinical manifestations are manifested by manifestations of encephalitis.

Sources of infection are mosquitoes of the genus Culex, which very often infect birds and animals. The disease cannot be transmitted from person to person, but only through the animal carrier.

Birds are a reservoir of Nile fever. Mosquitoes become infected by biting a sick bird, thanks to viruses that circulate in its blood. In fact, mosquitoes become vectors and carriers of the dangerous virus from infected to healthy birds and other animals.

When a mosquito swallows viruses, they begin to travel through the bloodstream and reach its salivary glands. This process takes 5 to 14 days, during which time the mosquito is able to infect new animals. One of the most important signs of the disease in a certain area is the finding of many dead crows.

The skin is the gateway to infection. After being bitten by an infected mosquito, the virus enters the bloodstream directly. Primary replication in capillaries is followed by replication in body tissues. After suffering from Nile fever, the person develops long-lasting immunity.

Symptoms of Nile fever

The incubation period of the disease lasts from 3 to 6 days. Most people have almost no symptoms, and about 20% of those infected show signs of a mild infection. These include headache and fever, fatigue, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes, eye pain. In a very small percentage of those infected, the virus causes severe neurological infections. These include inflammation of the brain, as well as inflammation of the brain and its surrounding membranes.

It is possible that meningitis and inflammation of the spinal cord may occur. Symptoms of this type of illness include severe headache, neck cramps, fever, disorientation, body aches, seizures, coma sometimes, sudden weakness, or even sudden paralysis.

Chills
Chills

The symptoms of Nile fever they usually last for a few days, but in severe forms of the infection that affect the brain, the problems can last for several weeks. Some of the neurological consequences remain permanent.

Diagnosis of Nile fever

The diagnosis is made on the basis of epidemiological data, such as recent contact with birds, mosquito or tick bites. It is important to know that a single mosquito bite cannot infect a person. Numerous bites are required to transmit the infection. Another important point in the diagnosis is the fact that it is not possible to detect the presence of infection until the symptoms of Nile fever.

Treatment of Nile fever

There is currently no cure for Nile fever. The only thing that can be done is symptomatic treatment aimed at the clinical manifestations of the patient. After diagnosis, patients are hospitalized and subject to one-week follow-up.

Although Bulgaria has a chance to get the virus Nile fever are minimal, people need to be careful, especially in the months when mosquitoes are active. People around the age of 50 are most vulnerable and susceptible to infection, so they need to be more careful. The consequences are even more severe. A vaccine against Nile fever has not yet been developed.

Protection against Nile fever

Because there is no preventive vaccine against Nile fever, experts recommend avoiding ponds and areas where mosquitoes congregate. In this way, one can protect oneself from multiple bites from infected mosquitoes.

When visiting areas where there are many mosquitoes, the infection can be avoided by clothing covering the skin and applying mosquito repellents. At home, every family can get the mosquito repellents available in store networks. These measures should be applied mainly in the months from April to October, when mosquitoes are most active.

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