A Lugoj man who contracted the West Nile virus through a mosquito sting was out of a coma, after almost 60 days
A 57 -year -old man was rescued by doctors in Timisoara, after entering a coma because of a mosquito sting, which caused a severe form of West Nile.
The patient, next to the medical team. Photo: Facebook “Victor Babes” Hospital Timişoara
A 57-year-old man went through a real nightmare after he was stung by a mosquito, reaching a coma because of the West Nile virus. After more than two months of struggle for life, of which one month spent on the Intensive Care Bed, the patient was rescued by the medical team from the “Victor Babeș” Infectious Diseases Hospital in Timisoara.
Entered a coma from a mosquito sting
It all started in April, when the man, originally from Lugoj, was presented at the Municipal Hospital with frequent fever and urination. Initially, the doctors considered that there was no need for hospitalization, prescribing an antibiotic treatment. After three days, as his condition did not improve, he returned to the hospital, and during the night the symptoms aggravated significantly, which is why the doctors decided to transfer emergency in Timisoara.
At the “Victor Babeș” Hospital, the laboratory analyzes confirmed the presence of the West Nile virus, and the case came to the attention of the Public Health Directorate, which initiated an investigation to identify how the infection was produced, given that the patient had not left the country for more than a year.
“The evolution was a dramatic one”
The condition of the man quickly damaged, reaching deep coma and presenting severe neurological signs, including clinical appearance, and doctors gave him an extremely reserved prognosis.
For a month, it was permanently monitored on the intensive care section by a multidisciplinary team, which applied a complex treatment that included repeated plasmapheresis sessions, intravenous immunoglobulins, neuroprotective treatment and an intensive medical recovery program.
“The evolution was a dramatic one: deep coma, serious neurological signs, clinical appearance with an extremely reserved prognosis. For a month, Lugojan was taken care of in the intensive care section by a multidisciplinary team of doctors and benefited from a complex therapeutic protocol: repeated sessions of plasmaphere. Intravenous, intensive neuroprotective treatment and an early medical recovery program ”, According to a Facebook post of the “Victor Babeş” Hospital in Timisoara.
The doctors' efforts were paid, and recently, the man came out of a coma, was detubated and gradually began to recover his neurological functions. Although the recovery process is slow, the patient responds well to the rehabilitation treatments.
The risks of West Nile virus infection
The West Nile virus, transmitted by mosquito sting, can cause serious neuroinvasive forms, which can affect the brain and central nervous system, leading to inflammation, seizures, paralysis, coma or even death.
In the absence of a vaccine, prevention remains the only effective weapon against the disease.
To reduce the risk of infection, the National Institute of Public Health recommends the use of repellent substances on exposed skin, wearing long -sleeved clothes, especially near water or vegetation areas, and installing protective nets and doors, to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
Also, the use of insecticides around the house can contribute to reducing the risk of stinging.
