Kemmerly Sandra Abadie
Section on Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Clinic and Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, New Orleans, LA.
Ochsner J. 2003 Summer;5(3):16-7.
West Nile Virus (WNV) should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with symptoms of viral meningitis, encephalitis, and flaccid paralysis. The activity for 2003 started with human cases in July and is expected to continue spreading throughout the United States. Only 1 in 150 WNV infections result in severe neurologic illness, which is more common in the elderly population. Testing for the IgM antibody against WNV in both serum and spinal fluid is the diagnostic test of choice. Treatment is generally supportive, and no specific anti-viral agents have been determined in trials to be beneficial. Prevention includes the elimination of mosquito breeding sites and the use of pesticides and insect repellents.
对于出现病毒性脑膜炎、脑炎和弛缓性麻痹症状的患者，鉴别诊断时应考虑西尼罗河病毒（WNV）。2003年的疫情始于7月出现的人类病例，预计将继续在美国蔓延。每150例WNV感染中只有1例会导致严重的神经系统疾病，这种情况在老年人群中更为常见。检测血清和脑脊液中针对WNV的IgM抗体是首选的诊断检测方法。治疗通常是支持性的，试验中尚未确定有任何特定的抗病毒药物有益。预防措施包括消除蚊虫滋生地以及使用杀虫剂和驱虫剂。
