Q: My adult daughter has just been diagnosed with West Nile from a mosquito bite. She has been ill for about 2 weeks. What would you suggest to help her with this illness?
A: Most people who are infected with West Nile virus have mild symptoms and have spontaneous recovery from it. Taking over-the-counter medications for the fever and body aches, such as Tylenol or Advil, can help to reduce fever and body aches. Also good hydration is recommended.
A small subset of patients who are infected with West Nile virus will develop complications on the brain (inflammation of the brain tissue). Symptoms of that include headaches, confusion and sudden weakness. Even though there is not much that can be done to cure brain inflammation, people do need to be admitted to the hospital to receive proper hydration and prevent other infections.
If she is very sick, unable to eat or drink or has the above listed symptoms of brain inflammation, she needs to be admitted to a hospital.
— Answer provided by Julia Kizhner, physician assistant on JustAnswer.
Daily Answer is excerpted from the JustAnswer archives and features information provided by a Expert on JustAnswer.
