I thought to post a page from my website since we will be overwhelmed with mosquitoes in the near future. http://labtestselect.com/west-nile-virus-antibody-serum As always, LabTest Select on Milledge Ave does not require a Physician's order nor insurance.
West Nile virus (WNV) is an infection that is transmitted to humans primarily by mosquitoes that have bitten infected birds. The virus is not passed directly from person-to-person, but there have been rare cases of WNV being transmitted to others through blood donations, organ transplants, and from a mother to child through breast milk. Tests for WNV are used in conjunction with a person's signs and symptoms and history of exposure to detect and/or confirm an acute WNV infection. The tests help determine if a person is infected by measuring the antibodies produced in response to a WNV infection or by detecting the virus's genetic material in blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). About 80% of people infected with WNV experience no symptoms. In the other 20%, it causes flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, nausea, muscular weakness, and/or a skin rash on the back or chest. These symptoms usually resolve without treatment within a few days to a few weeks. Only about 1 in 150 people infected with WNV becomes seriously ill with an infection that affects the central nervous system. These people may experience severe symptoms such as confusion, convulsions, high fever, neck stiffness, headaches, or a coma. They may have encephalitis and/or meningitis and/or may experience muscular paralysis. This serious form of WNV is much more common in the elderly and in the immuno-compromised. While most symptoms resolve within several weeks, some nerve damage and paralysis may linger or be permanent.
Please consult with your Physician with your test results or if you suspect you have WNV.
