Abstract
A recent outbreak of West Nile virus has allowed for observations as to the clinical course of this emerging pathogen during pregnancy. We present three cases of West Nile virus infection during pregnancy. Case 1 presented at term with focal subjective weakness and fever. With supportive care, her symptoms were resolved within 7 days, and she subsequently delivered an unaffected term infant. Case 2 presented in the first trimester with fever and headache. Her symptoms were resolved in 8 days with supportive care. Case 3 was diagnosed during the first trimester during workup of nonspecific respiratory symptoms, with resolution of all symptoms in 24 days. Obstetricians need to be aware of the varied clinical presentation of West Nile virus during pregnancy.
Highlights
Since it was first detected in New York in 1999 [1], West Nile virus (WNV) has become an increasingly important pathogen in the United States
In the summer of 2012, the United States experienced an epidemic of WNV, with 5,245 cases and 236 deaths reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 400 cases of WNV illness and 18 WNV deaths have occurred in Dallas County to date
Summary
Since it was first detected in New York in 1999 [1], West Nile virus (WNV) has become an increasingly important pathogen in the United States. Most cases of WNV are asymptomatic; infection can result in febrile illness, encephalitis, meningitis, or poliomyelitis. The first case of intrauterine-acquired WNV was reported in 2002 [2], and in 2003 a case of maternal WNV encephalitis was reported [3]. In the summer of 2012, the United States experienced an epidemic of WNV, with 5,245 cases and 236 deaths reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Texas has reported 1714 cases with 76 deaths far, with Dallas County being the most severely affected. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 400 cases of WNV illness and 18 WNV deaths have occurred in Dallas County to date. We report our experience with 3 cases of maternal WNV illness during pregnancy at Parkland Hospital
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