I'm going to get West Nile Virus

[cookiepuss]

I just know it.

in the past two days I have been bitten by misquitos, and not only did I feel them bite me but it seriously stung for like 5 minutes afterwards. I swear I can feel the blood-borne viruses spreading through my body.

fucking bugs.:mad:

[hpdrifter]

Wow, the heat has really brought out the bugs in your neck of the woods.

What are the symptoms and/or prognosis for those with WNV?

[cookiepuss]

shit thats a good question. I have no idea what the symptoms are. I'm just relying on my psychic abilities and the fact I just don't remember misquito bite hurting so much before.

[fucktopgirl]

ha pussy, mosquitoes bites dont hurt, horsefly hurt bad, when they sting they take off arm in the process.

Mosquitoes is" little beer " but i would have to concur that they suck!

[cookiepuss]

but I saw the little buggers and they were misquito. for sure. plus they have had a few cases of west nile in a town about 20 miles from here. I'm telling ya, they got it in for me. I have a blood type they relly enjoy...I always get bit more than the people around me.

hey cosmo...that thing you said about fleas not biting peeps with garlic in the blood stream...does that work for all blood sucking bugs...like misquitos?

[paul jones]

a moth the size of a bee headbutted me whilst eating earlier

[kaiser soze]

black fly bites blow chunks!

the buggers are tiny and you don't feel them biting you and then you look down at your arm and there's blood coming out of it and then after you have a welt for a week...without itching it!

[cookiepuss]

to paul: yuck. did he fall in your food?

[paul jones]

yuck. did he fall in your food?no,thankfully(y)

[cookiepuss]

FYI: west nile facts



Definition Return to top

West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitos and causes an illness that ranges from mild to severe. Mild, flu-like illness is often called West Nile fever. More severe forms of disease, which can be life-threatening, may be called West Nile encephalitis or West Nile meningitis, depending on where it spreads.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

West Nile virus is a type of organism called a flavivirus and is similar to many other mosquito-borne viruses, including Japanese encephalitis (which is found in Asia). Researchers believe the virus is spread when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites a person.

West Nile virus was first identified in 1937 in the West Nile region of Uganda, in eastern Africa. It was first identified in the US in the summer of 1999 in the Queens borough of New York, NY. It caused 62 cases of encephalitis and 7 deaths that summer. Since 1999 the virus has spread throughout the continental US and as of July 2004 has been identified in 46 states.

Mosquitos carry the highest amounts of virus in the early fall, thus there is a peak of disease in late August-early September. The risk of disease then decreases as the weather becomes colder and mosquitos die off.

Although many people are bitten by mosquitos that carry West Nile virus, most do not know they've been exposed. Few people develop severe disease or even notice any symptoms at all.

Data from the outbreak in Queens suggests that although 2.6% of the population was infected, only 1 in 5 infected people developed mild illness, and only 1 in 150 infected people developed brain inflammation (meningitis or encephalitis).

Risk factors for developing a worse form of the disease likely include the following:

Conditions that suppress the immune system
recent chemotherapy
recent organ transplantation
HIV
Pregnancy
Older age
West Nile virus may also be spread through blood transfusions and organ transplantation. It is possible for an infected mother to transmit the virus to her child via breast milk.

Symptoms Return to top

Mild disease, generally called West Nile fever, has some or all of the following symptoms:

Fever
Headache
Back pain
Muscle aches
Lack of appetite
Sore throat
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
These symptoms usually last for 3 to 6 days.

With more severe disease, the following symptoms can also be seen and require prompt attention:

Muscle weakness
Stiff neck
Confusion or change in clarity of thinking
Loss of consciousness
Signs and tests Return to top

Signs of West Nile virus infection are similar to those of other viral infections. There is nothing that can be found on physical examination to diagnose West Nile virus infection.

A rash is present in 20-50% of patients. True muscle weakness in the presence of other related symptoms is suggestive of West Nile virus infection.

Diagnostic tests that may be used if West Nile virus is suspected include the following:

CBC -- may show a normal or elevated white blood cell (WBC) count
Lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing
usually shows elevated WBC count (especially lymphocytes)
usually shows elevated protein level
Head CT scan -- often normal
Head MRI scan -- may show evidence of inflammation (in about one-third of patients)
The most accurate way to diagnose this infection is serology, a test to detect the presence of antibodies against West Nile virus in CSF or serum (a blood component). This is considered the gold standard for diagnosis.

Rarely, a sample of blood or CSF may be sent to a lab to be cultured to evaluate the presence of West Nile virus. The virus can also be identified in body fluids using a technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, these methods can provide false negative results.

Treatment Return to top

Because this illness is not caused by bacteria, antibiotics do not help treat West Nile virus infection. Standard hospital care may help decrease the risk of complications in severe illness. There is no human vaccine available at present, and it is likely there will not be one for several years.

Research trials are under way to determine whether ribavirin, an antiviral drug used to treat hepatitis C, may be helpful.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

In general, the likely outcome of a mild West Nile virus infection is excellent.

For patients with severe cases of West Nile virus infection, the outlook is more guarded. West Nile encephalitis or meningitis has the potential to lead to brain damage and death. Approximately 10% of patients with brain inflammation do not survive.

Complications Return to top

Complications from mild West Nile virus infection are extremely rare.

Complications from severe West Nile virus infection include permanent brain damage or muscle weakness (sometimes similar to polio), and death.

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Call your health care provider if you have any of the symptoms of West Nile virus infection, particularly if you may have had contact with mosquitos. If you are severely ill, seek attention in an emergency room.

If you have been bitten by an infected mosquito, there is no treatment to avoid development of West Nile virus infection. People in good general health generally do not develop a serious illness even if bitten by an infected mosquito.

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I feel headachey and nausiated quite often...but I don't think it's WNV....yet. hee hee.

[cosmo105]

hey cosmo...that thing you said about fleas not biting peeps with garlic in the blood stream...does that work for all blood sucking bugs...like misquitos?
nah. once a little old lady told me that a b vitamin did the trick but i can't remember if it was b3, b5, or b6. :\ just take a complex to cover all your bases. and wear citronella-based repellent.

[monkey]

i had west nile virus.* for like 2 days. the fever makes you say funny things, like "when i die, tell my mommy hi!" or "aliens arent green, they're purple!" the bf wasn't as amused by my feverish rumblings



*as per the doctor and the antibodies i developed afterward. interesting, huh?