Symptoms Of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

Muscle Aches

Another symptom present in all cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is muscle aches. The larger muscles, such as the thighs and back, are most affected. Muscle aches occur in the early stages of infection, along with fever, chills, and tiredness. Myalgia (muscle pain), can range from mild to severe and may be difficult to distinguish from typical influenza symptoms. Muscle pain is not caused by the virus but by the immune system's response. The hantavirus triggers the production of interleukins to help fight the infection. Interleukins are key modulators of the immune response, stimulating division of macrophages and other white blood cells. Muscle pain and fever are a side effect of the inflammatory response to the virus. Interleukin-1 causes the fever that accompanies muscle pain. The fever and muscle pains occur primarily in the first week of the acute disease. This phase is known as the febrile prodrome.

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Dizziness

In the early stages of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, over half of patients complain of dizziness. This typically manifests in the first week of acute illness onset. This is usually accompanied by a severe headache, muscle pain, fever, and weakness. This symptom may be a result of mild hypoxia as the virus begins to affect the lungs' ability to adequately perfuse the brain with oxygen. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome also causes a sudden drop in blood pressure. In cases where a patient complains of flu-like symptoms along with feeling light-headed, a thorough history should be taken, with a focus on possible rodent exposure. Occasional feelings of faintness or unsteadiness may progress to loss of consciousness after a few days due to cardiogenic shock in the untreated patient.

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