Patient discussions
Patients who are discharged after being diagnosed with West Nile fever should be aware of symptoms of neuroinvasive disease (e.g., any neurological change, mental status changes, limb weakness, paralysis, or respiratory depression). They should also be aware of the rare manifestations of West Nile virus infection such as significant abdominal tenderness and/or jaundice (indicating pancreatitis or hepatitis), or chest pain, palpitations, and/or shortness of breath (indicating myocarditis). The patient should be instructed to contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible if these symptoms develop.
Advice about preventing infection should be given to all patients. Mosquito bites should be avoided, especially in areas and times of high West Nile virus activity. Avoidance strategies include staying indoors from dusk to dawn, discarding stagnant water that may breed mosquitoes, and avoiding areas of heavy vegetation that may harbour mosquitoes.[28] Insect repellent should be used, and clothes that cover the whole body should be worn when outdoors.
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