What are the symptoms of Hantavirus (Hantavirus) infection?

From the Guidelines

Hantavirus infection initially presents with flu-like symptoms including fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, dizziness, chills, and abdominal problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, which can rapidly progress to life-threatening respiratory distress. These early symptoms typically appear 1-8 weeks after exposure 1. As the disease progresses to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), patients develop breathing difficulties, shortness of breath, and coughing as fluid accumulates in the lungs. This respiratory phase can rapidly worsen, leading to respiratory failure and potentially death. The severity of hantavirus stems from the virus's ability to damage blood vessels, causing them to leak fluid into the lungs.

Key Symptoms

• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Chills
• Abdominal problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain
• Breathing difficulties
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing Early recognition is crucial as the disease can progress quickly from mild symptoms to life-threatening respiratory distress within hours. People should seek immediate medical attention if they develop these symptoms after potential exposure to rodents or their droppings, especially in endemic areas. There is no specific treatment for hantavirus, so supportive care in an intensive care setting is the primary management approach. It is essential to note that hantavirus infections are associated with domestic, occupational, or recreational activities that bring humans into contact with infected rodents, usually in rural settings 1.

Prevention Measures

To reduce the risk of hantavirus infection, it is recommended to:

• Keep food and water covered and stored in rodent-proof containers
• Keep pet food covered and stored in rodent-proof containers
• Remove leftover food and clean up all spilled food from cooking and eating areas
• Dispose of trash and garbage on a frequent and regular basis, and pick up or eliminate clutter
• Keep items off of the floor to prevent rodents from nesting in them
• Repair water leaks and prevent condensation from forming on cold water pipes by insulating them 1.

From the Research

Symptoms of Hantavirus

The symptoms of hantavirus infection can be categorized into two main clinical presentations:

• Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)
• Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

HPS is characterized by a rapid onset of pulmonary edema followed by respiratory failure and cardiogenic shock 4. The symptoms of HPS include:

• Severe pulmonary edema
• Respiratory failure
• Cardiogenic shock
• Microvascular leakage in the lungs

Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS)

HFRS is characterized by fever, hemorrhage, and renal failure 3, 5, 6. The symptoms of HFRS include:

• Fever
• Hemorrhage
• Renal failure
• Tubular necrosis in the kidneys
• Myocardial depression and hypotension or shock

Common Symptoms

Both HFRS and HPS can have similar clinical aspects, but they also have distinct symptoms 5. Common symptoms of hantavirus infection include:

• Fever
• Myocardial depression and hypotension or shock
• Inflammatory mediators causing clinical manifestations 3