Powassan Virus: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Powassan Virus: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment - Powassan is a flea disease caused by a virus. It can create swelling in the mind (doctors call this encephalitis) as well as in the membranes around the mind and also spine (you may hear this called meningitis).

Just concerning 75 situations were reported in the United States over the last One Decade. Yet experts alert the condition could begin to spread faster since it's sent by the deer tick-- the exact same tick that spreads out Lyme disease.

Powassan Virus: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Powassan spreads from ticks to individuals much faster than Lyme condition. Although the viral infection is generally mild, it can be serious in a small number of individuals, and in extreme situations, some symptoms, like weak point and also amnesia, can be irreversible.

That's why health authorities warn people who stay in Northeast and also Great Lakes states, where the virus often spreads out, to take actions to avoid infection.

Just How It Spreads

Infected ticks spread out the Powassan virus when they bite individuals. In the past, sorts of ticks that seldom attack human beings-- such as woodchuck ticks as well as others-- generally spread it. Today, the deer tick, which is more likely to attack individuals, likewise brings the virus.

The ticks that bring Powassan generally reside in woody areas around the Northeast and Great Lakes. These ticks are most active in late springtime, early summer season, and also mid-fall.

Not every tick is contaminated with the virus, and also not every person that is bitten will get ill. Yet ticks that are contaminated can transmit it swiftly-- within minutes of affixing to a person. Lyme disease takes much longer-- 24 to 48 hours-- to spread out from tick to human. You cannot capture Powassan from one more person.

Symptoms

Most Powassan infections are mild. Some individuals do not have any type of symptoms. If you do, they'll show up a week to a month after you were attacked and could consist of:

• Fever
• Migraine
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Confusion, memory problems
• Trouble strolling as well as talking
• Seizures

See your medical professional if you have any one of these symptoms and might have been revealed to ticks. Call 911 or go to an emergency room for extreme symptoms.

Medical diagnosis

Your doctor will ask you questions like these:

• Exactly what symptoms do you have?
• When did they start?
• Could you have been subjected to ticks?

You could require examinations of your blood as well as back liquid to check for antibodies that your body immune system makes to fight the Powassan virus.

Treatment

Although no certain drug or procedure deals with Powassan, and several cases are mild, physicians have ways to handle symptoms. If yours are serious, you could need to go to a hospital to get treatment, such as:

• Breathing support
• Liquids through a capillary (IV).
• Medicine to lower swelling in the mind.

Avoidance

The very best way to secure on your own from Powassan, as well as various other tick-borne conditions, is to avoid tick attacks:

• Avoid of wooded or grassy areas whenever you can.
• When you remain in the woods, spray all locations of your bare skin with an insect repellent having DEET. Likewise, treat your clothes and gear with permethrin. Remember that repellents just last for a few hours.
• When you return inside, check your entire body for ticks. Remember about your scalp.
• Also, check your garments and also pet dogs.
• Wash or shower to locate as well as wash off any kind of ticks on your skin.

There's no vaccination that can avoid the disease.