[pct-l] mosquitos

[ECPG at peoplepc.com (Carolyn Eddy)]

The original symptoms are like flu that hangs on for a couple of weeks. It 
can take up to 2-3 weeks incubation, so you may be well past where you got 
it by the time you know something is wrong. A blood test can definitively 
diagnose this. I probably got this in Lassen NF or around Tahoe. We were 
using the new Picardin mosquito repellent which mosquitos like to drink, it 
repelled none of them.

If you are lucky, tylenol for fever and headache and good hydration will get 
you through it.

Unfortunately, mine continued on into neurological symptoms about a week 
after the original symptoms when I woke up in the morning with a splitting 
headache and when I stood up and tried to walk, I had no control over my 
left side so pitched directly onto my face and couldn't catch myself. I took 
my temperature which was normal when I took it and also normal at the ER but 
within two hours it had risen to 102 degrees. This also caused considerable 
dehydration, requiring IV fluids.

The headache, and left side paralysis was caused by brain swelling, 
according to the ER doc, so they gave me large doses of tylenol for the 
headache and swelling and fever.

I went home after they got me stable but it was about a month before I felt 
like resuming  daily activities. Some people apparently are not recovering 
completely.

If you feel like you have the flu it may be the beginnings of W Nile, so I 
would start with anti- inflammatories and monitor your temperature. Flu 
doesn't usually result in as high a temp.

There are animal vaccines for it but no human yet. The county where I think 
I got it had 590 verified cases this year.

Carolyn Eddy
"Sweet Goat Mama"
www.goattracksmagazine.com 



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Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.0.0 - Release Date: 11/8/2004