Health
Lingering effects of West Nile
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 4, 2006
More than a year after being diagnosed with a West Nile virus infection, half of the patients studied by North Dakota researchers had ongoing health complaints including fatigue, memory problems, headaches, depression and tremors, according to an article in the Sept. 15 Clinical Infectious Diseases.
The authors noted that patients with the relatively benign manifestation of West Nile fever are just as likely to have later health problems as those hospitalized with such illnesses as encephalitis or meningitis.
Although most people infected with the virus have no symptoms, about 20% develop a flu-like illness called West Nile fever.
About 1% may develop severe disease. The authors tested 49 patients about 13 months after they were diagnosed with an illness caused by the virus.
"I hope this study will raise awareness that West Nile virus poses a substantial public health threat," said lead author Paul Carson, MD, of MeritCare Health System, headquartered in Fargo, N.D.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/09/04/hlbf0904.htm.
