Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is an infectious disease associated with flu-like symptoms that can frequently progress into life-threatening and breathing problems.

There are types of hantaviruses that cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. These viruses are carried by several types of rodents, especially the deer mouse. A person can be infected by breathing air in which hantaviruses are present, including droplets of rodent urine and other droppings.

Symptoms

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome when infects a person goes through two progressing stages. It is difficult to diagnose hantavirus in the early period of illness. In the first stage, the infected person shows flu-like symptoms that include: 

After 4 to 10 days, serious signs and symptoms begin to show. That include:

Causes

Hantaviruses are transmitted to people through the aerosols of viruses in the air, their droppings, urine, and also saliva. Aerosolization occurs when a virus is kicked in the air, that is easy to inhale. 

After inhaling hantaviruses, it reaches the lungs and invade tiny capillaries, and causing leakages. Your lungs then fill with fluid, which triggers any of the respiratory problems associated with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Treatment

Treatment options for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome are limited. But the early prognosis is needed which improves life quality, immediate hospitalization, and proper support for breathing.

Supportive therapy

People suffering from severe stage need immediate treatment in an intensive care unit. Intubation or mechanical ventilation may also be needed to support breathing and manage fluid in the lungs.

Blood oxygenation

In extremely severe cases, you may need a method of ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) to help ensure the patient retains a sufficient amount of oxygen. This involves continuous pumping of blood through a machine that removes carbon dioxide and adds oxygen and then returned to the body. 

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