From the Guidelines
Symptoms of T-lymphocytic viruses, such as Human T-cell Leukemia Virus (HTLV), typically include fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, night sweats, and weight loss, with more severe manifestations including skin rashes, neurological problems, and certain types of cancer like adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (particularly with HTLV-1) 1.
Key Symptoms
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Night sweats
- Weight loss
- Skin rashes
- Neurological problems (such as weakness, numbness, or cognitive changes)
- Opportunistic infections
- Certain types of cancer like adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (particularly with HTLV-1)
Disease Association
HTLV-I has been definitively associated with two diseases: adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and a chronic degenerative neurologic disease, HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) 1.
HTLV-II Infection
HTLV-II infection has not been clearly associated with any diseases, although rare cases of HAM/TSP-like neurologic illnesses and other conditions have been reported in HTLV-II-infected persons 1.
Importance of Early Diagnosis
Early diagnosis through blood tests is essential, as these conditions require long-term management under specialized medical care to prevent complications and disease progression 1.
From the Research
Symptoms of T Lymphocytic Virus
The symptoms of T lymphocytic virus, also known as Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), can vary depending on the disease it causes. Some of the symptoms include:
- Spastic paraparesis, a condition characterized by stiffness and weakness in the legs [ 2 ]
- Lower limb sensory disturbance, which can cause numbness, tingling, or pain in the legs [ 2 ]
- Bladder/bowel dysfunction, which can cause problems with urination or bowel movements [ 2 ]
- Organomegaly, which is the enlargement of organs such as the liver or spleen [ 3 ]
- Skin lesions, which can appear as rashes or sores on the skin [ 3 ]
- High white blood cell count, which can indicate an infection or inflammation [ 3 ]
- Hypercalcaemia, which is an elevated level of calcium in the blood [ 3 ]
- Infective dermatitis of children, a condition characterized by skin inflammation and infection [ 4 ]
- Uveitis, which is inflammation of the eye [ 4 ]
Disease Associations
HTLV-1 has been associated with several diseases, including: