UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Hantavirus (Sin Nombre Virus) Pulmonary Syndrome

Category: International EM

Keywords: Hantavirus, Sin Nombre, Pulmonary, Infectious Disease (PubMed Search)

Posted: 11/7/2012 by Andrea Tenner, MD (Updated: 11/16/2012)
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  • General Information
    • Organism: Bunyaviridae virus
    • Transmission: inhalation of aerosols contaminated with rodent urine or feces.
    • Seen in the southwestern United States, South and Central America
    • Death occurs from decreased cardiac output and circulatory failure.
  • Clinical Presentation
    • Initial symptoms are nonspecific and occur 1-5 weeks after exposure: fever, malaise, myalgia, and GI upset
      • Can progress to fulminant ARDS-like picture in previously health young patients.
    • Signs NOT consistent with HPS: rash, hemorrhage, petechiae, peripheral or periorbital edema.
  • Diagnosis
    • The diagnosis must initially be made clinically.
    • Lab tests may reveal nonspecific findings of thrombocytopenia, atypical lympthocytes with bandemia, hemoconcentration, and renal failure.
    • Chest film will demonstrate bilateral interstitial infiltrates.
    • Serology (ELISA) available through the CDC.
  • Treatment
    • There is no specific therapy for hantavirus infection; Treatment is primarily supportive, with attention to respiratory status and oxygenation.

University of Maryland Section for Global Emergency Health

Author: Andi Tenner

References

Center for Disease Control. (2012). Hantavirus.  Retrieved September 3, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/index.html

 

Berger, S. A., Calisher, C. H., and Keystone, J. H., (2003).  Exotic Viral Disease: A Global Guide. Hamilton, Ontario: BC Decker.