Western Equine Encephalitis(WEE)
by
Rebecca J. Stahl, MA DefinitionWestern equine encephalitis (WEE) is a virus spread by a bite from an infected mosquito. While WEE is rare, an infection can be serious or fatal. CausesWEE is caused by a virus. The virus is passed through the bite of an infected mosquito. Risk FactorsFactors that may increase your chance of WEE include:
SymptomsMost people with WEE do not have any symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they appear within 5-10 days after infection and include:
WEE can lead to more serious, life-threatening symptoms like inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), seizures, and coma. These serious symptoms are more common in infants and older adults.
DiagnosisIn addition to taking your medical history and doing a physical exam, your doctor will ask you:
Your doctor may need to test your bodily fluids. This can be done with:
Imaging tests to evaluate the brain can be done with: TreatmentBecause the infection is viral, there is no specific treatment for WEE. Treatment will focus on managing your symptoms and related complications through:
PreventionThere is no vaccine for humans. There is a vaccine for horses. Prevention of WEE focuses on controlling mosquitoes and avoiding mosquito bites. Steps you can take to avoid mosquito bites:
RESOURCES:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases https://www.niaid.nih.gov References:About Western equine encephalitis. Minnesota Department of Health website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed December 7, 2017. Meningitis and encephalitis information page. National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at:
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Meningitis-and-Encephalitis-Information-Page. Accessed December 7, 2017.
Mosquito avoidance. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115142/Mosquito-avoidance
. Updated November 21, 2016. Accessed December 7, 2017.
Last reviewed November 2018 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
David L. Horn, MD, FACP Last Updated: 12/20/2014 |
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