Demographic and Clinical Factors Associated with Persistent Symptoms after West Nile Virus Infection

Robert L. Cook Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Department of Medicine and Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Central District Health Department, Boise, Idaho; Southwest District Health Department, Caldwell, Idaho

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Xiaohui Xu Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Department of Medicine and Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Central District Health Department, Boise, Idaho; Southwest District Health Department, Caldwell, Idaho

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Eric J. Yablonsky Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Department of Medicine and Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Central District Health Department, Boise, Idaho; Southwest District Health Department, Caldwell, Idaho

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Nikole Sakata Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Department of Medicine and Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Central District Health Department, Boise, Idaho; Southwest District Health Department, Caldwell, Idaho

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Jennifer H. Tripp Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Department of Medicine and Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Central District Health Department, Boise, Idaho; Southwest District Health Department, Caldwell, Idaho

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Rachel Hess Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Department of Medicine and Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Central District Health Department, Boise, Idaho; Southwest District Health Department, Caldwell, Idaho

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Paolo Piazza Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Department of Medicine and Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Central District Health Department, Boise, Idaho; Southwest District Health Department, Caldwell, Idaho

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Charles R. Rinaldo Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Department of Medicine and Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Central District Health Department, Boise, Idaho; Southwest District Health Department, Caldwell, Idaho

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0717
Volume/Issue:
Volume 83: Issue 5
Page(s):
1133–1136
Restricted access
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Prognosis varies among persons with West Nile virus (WNV) infection, but the most important factors associated with persistent symptoms are not clear. In this cross-sectional study, 265 persons with symptomatic WNV infection during 2006–2008 completed a survey a mean of 7.7 months after diagnosis. We determined the association of demographic and clinical characteristics to the most common symptoms. Of 214 persons infected ≥ 6 months, 53% reported one or more persistent symptoms, including fatigue, muscle aches, decreased activity, difficulty with memory, and difficulty concentrating. Persons with neuroinvasive disease, hypertension, or diabetes were significantly more likely to report persistent symptoms, whereas age, sex, and time since infection were not associated with persistent symptoms. In conclusion, persistent symptoms persisted in most persons for more than six months after symptomatic WNV infection. Improved strategies for prevention and treatment are needed.

Author Notes

*Address correspondence to Robert L. Cook, University of Florida, PO Box 100231, Gainesville, FL 32610. E-mail: cookrl@ufl.edu

Financial support: This study was supported in part by National Institutes of Health contract HHSN226200400027C (W. Hildebrand, University of Oklahoma).

Authors' addresses: Robert L. Cook and Xiaohui Xu, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, E-mails: cookrl@ufl.edu and xhxu@phhp.ufl.edu. Eric J. Yablonsky, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, E-mail: yablonskyej@upmc.edu. Nikole Sakata, Central District Health Department, Boise, ID, E-mail: nsakata@cdhd.idaho.gov. Jennifer H. Tripp, Southwest District Health, Caldwell, ID, E-mail: jtripp@phd3.state.id.us. Rachel Hess, Center for Research on Health Care, Pittsburgh PA, E-mail: rah67@pitt.edu. Paolo Piazza and Charles R. Rinaldo, Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, E-mails: paolo@pitt.edu and rinaldo@pitt.edu.

Copyright:
©The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2010
Received:
01 Dec 2009
|
Accepted:
07 Jul 2010
|
Published Online:
05 Nov 2010
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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