What does west nile virus look like on your skin?

Summer is here, which means it’s time for barbecues, hikes, and long walks outside. Unfortunately, while soaking up the sun may feel good in the moment,mosquitoes are always lurking around to ruin your fun.

Sure, a mosquito bite may not seem like a big deal – just an annoying itch that goes away in a few hours. But what if there was more to it than that? What if that pesky little insect passed along something much worse than an itch?

Enter West Nile virus. This serious illness can be transmitted by mosquitoes and cause mild symptoms or severe disease resulting in hospitalization or even death!

But how do you know if you have contracted this nasty virus? One of the most common symptoms of West Nile is visible on your skin – so let’s take a deeper dive into what those signs may look like.

The Basics: What Is West Nile Virus?

Before we get started talking about what the virus looks like physically (aka beauty marks, ugh) we need to understand what it actually is.

West Nile virus typically presents with flu-like symptoms such as:

  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Body Aches

However,in severe cases, where the virus progresses to neurological infections inflammation/infection of spinal cord/brain occur leading to tremors/confusion/seizures/hallucinations.{% raw %}$^{1}${% endraw %} That sounds fun right? So now imagine these symptoms are enough…but also manifested ON YOUR SKIN!

West Nile can be spread via mosquitos who harbor infected blood (thanks bloodsuckers) from birds that developed resident viruses within their body system during previous seasons when bitten by malaria-carrying mosquitoes.{% raw %}$^{2}${% endraw %} EYE ROLL ALERT!

Knowing this background is essential to painting a legitimate picture in what can be an uncomfortable and dangerous situation. Now buckle up, because we’re diving into the real physical symptoms.

Symptoms: What Does West Nile Virus Look Like on Your Skin?

You may not even know you have contracted West Nile virus right away – it takes time for your body to become symptomatic. But once those telltale signs arise, there are definitely some skin-related symptoms that should put you on alert.

Hives

If you’ve ever had hives before as an allergic reaction to something, then you already know what this symptom looks like. However,WEST NILE VIRUS HIVESare different than regular allergies-induced-goofy-looking- red-spots-gracing-your-body hive appearance! The itch can range from mild to severe enough that someone cannot resist scratching/even losing sleep over discomfort.{% raw %}$^{3}${% endraw %} When more chronic – lesions/malaise tend to present{% raw %}$^{4}${% endraw %}, which will resemble other infections caused by insect bites or medical conditions!

Facial Droopiness

More often seen in severe cases….West Nile infection leads either acute[rapid onset, typically with less duration of threats]-inflammation of the facial nerves leading paralysis/facial drooping (Bell’s palsy). Facies gets distorted due loss/weaknessageof power controlling eyebrow movements & able cheeks/wrinkles forming during smiling/frowning.{% raw %}$^{5}${% endraw %}

Rashes

Rashes aren’t uncommon when it comes to viral illnesses, and West Nile virus is no exception. Rashes tend characterize autoimmune/infectious diseases causing inflammation/discoloration/allergic response within blood vessels under epidermis surface-layer.| {% raw %}(6){% endraw %}

While these rashes can look different from case to case, they typically are red in color and may look like small dots or patches. They can appear on the arms, legs or chest.{% raw %}$^{7}${% endraw %}SCREAMS BEACH READY EH!?!

Swelling

The edema that transpires as a response from mosquito bite could become more than what meets the eye. People with West Nile infection experience generalized persistent inflammation/swelling that extends to limbs & facial features-contributing up-around 5-10 days in recovery {% raw %}(8){% endraw %}. So basically you’re unrecognizable for almost two weeks!!!!

Prevention: How Can I Avoid Contracting West Nile Virus?

Now that we know just how nasty this virus can be, it’s important to talk about prevention.

Here are some simple steps you can take:

  • Wear protective clothing such as long sleeves, pants and insect repellent when outdoors.
  • Remove standing water sources around your home where mosquitos breed.
  • Be mindful of the time spent engaging outdoor activities especially during dusk/dawn which exposes individuals high risk possessing large amounts of mosquitoes roaming outside!

By taking these preventative measures seriously at all times,the possibility of contracting West Nile virus dramatically decreases.. Bring on those summer evenings!!

Conclusion

Mosquitoes may seem like just an annoying part of summertime fun…but they have the potential to do real harm. Remember:

West Nile symptoms aren’t always physical,rather an array in manifestation(somethings being flu-like while also creeping onto skin), thus; avoidance is key!

This article was a lighthearted approach at presenting serious facts concerning our body’s responses when affected by dangerous viruses-WEST NILE VIRUS who use these pesky mosquitoes’ loving owners style them across towns and cities progressively helping transmit pathogens!! Let us take proactive steps towards limiting our exposure to pesky mosquito bites and lets hope for them to be gone soon! {% raw %} Stay safe out there, guys.{% endraw %}

References

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/symptoms/index.html
    2.https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/qa/how-is-west-nile-virus-spread-among-humans
    3.https://thedermreview.com/hives/#:~:text=Hives%20symptoms%20include%20redness%2C,body’s%20immune%20system’%204.
    4.http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/bitstream/10150/195103/1/AZU_TD_BOX324_E9791_1939_99.pdf via semantic scholar – could not find perma link from this site
    5.https://medlineplus.gov/bellspalsy.html
    6.https://americanacademyofaerospaceanddefense.org/viral-rash-on-arms-and-legs-pictures-meaning-causes-types-prevention/
    6 . 8 / combined found written in one source : https://entomologytoday.org/wp-content/uploads/TB170_Sahabi_and_Lane_0.pdf

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