Severe West Nile virus disease in healthy adults

Clin Infect Dis. 2004 Jan 15;38(2):289-92. doi: 10.1086/380458. Epub 2003 Dec 16.

Abstract

The inpatient records of 44 case patients with West Nile virus infection hospitalized in 2002 were reviewed. Sixty-five percent of the case patients had encephalitis, and 35% had aseptic meningitis. There was no significant difference in the distribution of aseptic meningitis versus encephalitis among adults aged < or =50 years compared with adults aged > or =65 years. Focal weakness, likely due to anterior horn cell involvement, was present in 10 case patients (overall rate, 23%; rate among patients with encephalitis, 34%). Case patients with focal weakness who were aged < or =50 years had monoparesis, whereas those aged > or =65 years had paraparesis or quadriparesis. The overall mortality rate was 14%, and the mortality rate in patients aged > or =65 years was 35%. Increased age was associated with an increased mortality rate. The presence of paraparesis or quadriparesis was not independently predictive of mortality.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Paraparesis / etiology
  • Paresis / etiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • West Nile Fever / diagnosis
  • West Nile Fever / epidemiology*
  • West Nile Fever / mortality
  • West Nile Fever / physiopathology
  • West Nile virus*