What are the Most Common Arbovirus in Children in the US?
Discussion
Arboviruses are viruses transmitted by arthropods (primarily mosquitos and ticks) to humans. Most infections are asymptomatic. Many others have mild symptoms such as an influenza-like illnesses. But for some patients they can cause neuroinvasive disease with meningitis, encephalitis and flaccid paralysis. Some patients also unfortunately die.
Diagnosis is by serum or cerebrospinal fluid IgM antibody to the specific virus. Treatment is supportive only as there is no specific treatment and currently there are no vaccines for prevention. Mosquito bite and tick bite prevention are the best options for families and can be reviewed here.
A systematic review of West Nile Virus (WNV) neuroinvasive disease in adults showed those infected can have a lengthy recovery with many sequelae, particularly muscle weakness, fatigue, myalgia and headache commonly along with memory loss, depression and concentrating difficulty.
Common arbovirus characteristics include:
West Nile Virus
Flavivirus
Transmitted by Culex mosquito with birds as reservoir
Seen in areas of Africa (originally identified in 1937 in Uganda in the West Nile District), Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia
Has spread to most states in the United States and many Canadian provinces and is the most common reported arbovirus in children
Older children and teenagers seem to be more common
Incubation period usually 2-6 days, but 2-14 days is possible
70-80% asymptomatic, 20% influenza like illness (i.e...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: pediatriceducationmin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
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