Living with West-Nile encephalitis
A form of West Nile virus infection that reaches the brain and nervous system.
Understanding West-Nile encephalitis
West Nile virus is usually spread to people by infected mosquitoes. Encephalitis occurs when the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier and infects the central nervous system. Anyone can be affected, but risk is highest in people over 60, organ transplant recipients, and people with certain conditions such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these:
- Headache
- Fever
- Stiff neck
- Confusion (disorientation)
- Tremors
- Seizures or paralysis
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists and seizure and epilepsy specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Epilepsy Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Seizure and epilepsy specialists (epileptologist)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Epilepsy Foundation
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Encephalitis411 and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD says the virus is generally spread by infected mosquitoes. Encephalitis occurs when it infects the central nervous system.
Also known as: west nile encephalitis; west nile fever encephalitis; west nile fever with encephalitis; west nile virus caused infectious encephalitis; west nile virus infectious encephalitis; west-nile fever
Patient organizations
- Encephalitis411West-Nile encephalitis · United States
- Epilepsy FoundationEpilepsy · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with West-Nile encephalitis.
Explore research for West-Nile encephalitis
Explore actively recruiting West-Nile encephalitis studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for West-Nile encephalitis with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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