Common West Nile Virus Symptoms
Most people infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they usually show up 2 to 14 days after a mosquito bite. Common signs include fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. These symptoms often resemble the flu and can last several days to weeks.
Severe Symptoms and Neurological Complications
In rare cases, West Nile virus can cause severe illness affecting the nervous system. This may lead to high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures, or paralysis. Severe forms include West Nile neuroinvasive disease and West Nile meningitis. Older adults and people with weakened immune systems face higher risk of serious outcomes.
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Doctors diagnose West Nile virus with blood tests or cerebrospinal fluid analysis. There are no specific antiviral treatments; care focuses on rest, fluids, and pain relief. Severe cases may require hospitalization. Prevention relies on avoiding mosquito bites by using repellent, wearing long sleeves, and removing standing water near homes. Learn more about prevention from the CDC.
