Nipah virus infection
Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD's weight loss doctor NYC
Philadelphia GLP-1 weight loss and GLP-1 clinic NYC
| Nipah virus infection | |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | N/A |
| Pronounce | N/A |
| Specialty | N/A |
| Symptoms | Fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, mental confusion, coma |
| Complications | Encephalitis, seizures, death |
| Onset | 5 to 14 days after exposure |
| Duration | 7 to 10 days |
| Types | N/A |
| Causes | Nipah virus |
| Risks | Close contact with infected animals or humans |
| Diagnosis | PCR, ELISA, virus isolation |
| Differential diagnosis | Japanese encephalitis, herpes simplex encephalitis, rabies |
| Prevention | Avoiding exposure to infected animals, biosecurity measures |
| Treatment | Supportive care, intensive care |
| Medication | N/A |
| Prognosis | High mortality rate |
| Frequency | Outbreaks in South Asia and Southeast Asia |
| Deaths | Approximately 40% to 75% of cases |
Nipah virus infection is a viral infection caused by the Nipah virus. Symptoms from infection vary from none to fever, cough, headache, shortness of breath, and confusion. This may worsen into a coma over a day or two. Complications can include inflammation of the brain and seizures following recovery.
Transmission[edit]
The virus is typically spread between people through direct contact with body fluids. It is also spread from animals such as pigs and bats to humans, with fruit bats being the most common source. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and confirmed by laboratory testing.
Prevention and Treatment[edit]
As of 2018, there is no vaccine or treatment that specifically targets Nipah virus infection. Efforts to prevent the infection involve avoiding exposure to bats in areas where the disease is common. When caring for those with the disease, standard infection control measures are important.
Epidemiology[edit]
Outbreaks have occurred in Malaysia, Singapore, India, and Bangladesh. The disease was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia and Singapore. The name of the virus comes from Sungai Nipah, a village in the Malaysian Peninsula where pig farmers became ill with encephalitis.
See Also[edit]
References[edit]
External Links[edit]
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding the page. |
