Nipah virus infection (NiV) 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.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms start to appear within 3–14 days after exposure. Initial symptoms are fever, headache, drowsiness followed by disorientation and mental confusion. These symptoms can progress into coma as fast as in 24–48 hours.
Encephalitis, inflammation of the brain, is the dreaded complication of nipah virus infection. Respiratory illness can also be present during the early part of the illness.
Nipah-case patients who had breathing difficulty are more likely than those without respiratory illness to transmit the virus.The disease is suspected in symptomatic individuals in the context of an epidemic outbreak.
RISK
The risk of exposure is high for hospital workers and caretakers of those infected with the virus. In Malaysia and Singapore, Nipah virus infection occurred in those with close contact to infected pigs. In Bangladesh and India, the disease has been linked to consumption of raw date palm sap (toddy) and contact with bats
DIAGONISIS
Laboratory diagnosis of Nipah virus infection is made using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from throat swabs, cerebrospinal fluid, urine and blood analysis during acute and convalescent stages of the disease.
IgG and IgM antibody detection can be done after recovery to confirm Nipah virus infection. Immunohistochemistry on tissues collected during autopsy also confirms the disease.[10] Viral RNA can be isolated from the saliva of infected persons.
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