West Nile Virus Infection
Evidence of West Nile encephalitis virus infection has been documented in most states of the continental United States within a short period of its first introduction in 1999. Health care providers are mostly aware of the usual presentations of this disease, eg, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome. We present a patient whose only manifestations were cerebellar ataxia and fever.
West Nile encephalitis virus (WNV) has spread rapidly to most of the states in the United States. The typical features of WNV infection include fever, headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, confusion, disorientation, and generalized muscle weakness. Health care authorities are continuously reminding physicians to report any suspected case of WNV encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, and acute Guillain-Barré syndrome (New York City Department of Health: 2002 Alert, July 1, 2002). However, not all cases present with the above manifestations. Here we report a patient with WNV infection who presented with cerebellar ataxia and fever.
Evidence of West Nile encephalitis virus infection has been documented in most states of the continental United States within a short period of its first introduction in 1999. Health care providers are mostly aware of the usual presentations of this disease, eg, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome. We present a patient whose only manifestations were cerebellar ataxia and fever.
West Nile encephalitis virus (WNV) has spread rapidly to most of the states in the United States. The typical features of WNV infection include fever, headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, confusion, disorientation, and generalized muscle weakness. Health care authorities are continuously reminding physicians to report any suspected case of WNV encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, and acute Guillain-Barré syndrome (New York City Department of Health: 2002 Alert, July 1, 2002). However, not all cases present with the above manifestations. Here we report a patient with WNV infection who presented with cerebellar ataxia and fever.
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