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St. Louis Encephalitis
by
Amy Scholten, MPH DefinitionSt. Louis encephalitis is an infection from a mosquito. It can range from mild to life-threatening.
CausesSt. Louis encephalitis is caused by a virus. It is spread to humans from the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus is not spread from person to person. Risk FactorsThings that may raise the risk of St. Louis encephalitis are:
SymptomsSt. Louis encephalitis can cause a wide range of symptoms. However, sometimes there are no symptoms. The disease can be mild, severe, or even fatal. Symptoms may be:
DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. Blood tests are usually used to diagnose the virus. TreatmentThere is no specific treatment for St. Louis encephalitis. Treatment depends on how severe the disease is. The goal is to manage symptoms and problems. Depending on the symptoms, options may be:
PreventionTo reduce the risk of St. Louis encephalitis:
RESOURCES:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases https://www.niaid.nih.gov CANADIAN RESOURCES:Alberta Ministry of Health https://www.alberta.ca/health.aspx Health Canada https://www.canada.ca References:Curren EJ, Lindsey NP, et al. St. Louis encephalitis virus disease in the United States, 2003-2017. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2018;99(4):1074-1079. Measurement of St. Louis encephalitis virus antibody. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/lab-monograph/measurement-of-st-louis-encephalitis-virus-antibody. Accessed April 2, 2021.
Mosquito avoidance. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
https://www.dynamed.com/prevention/mosquito-avoidance. Accessed April 2, 2021.
Saint Louis encephalitis fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed April 2, 2021. Last reviewed December 2020 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
David L. Horn, MD, FACP Last Updated: 4/2/2021 | |