Rodents are direct carriers of some diseases, including mouse fever. It will be discussed in today's article. This disease should not be taken lightly, because it poses a very serious danger to human health and life.

What is mouse fever

Mouse fever is a viral disease of a natural focal nature, occurring in an acute form. In the medical world, a special term is used - with renal syndrome.

It is always accompanied by kidney damage and severe intoxication of the body (with a temperature of about 40 degrees and above). This disease is considered extremely dangerous due to the development of severe complications in the absence of timely and proper treatment.

How can you get mouse fever?

A patient with mouse fever is not contagious to other people. This infection is not transmitted from person to person. Infection with this virus can occur by alimentary or airborne (aspiration) routes.

The first option is much more common than the second. Rodent feces can pose a risk of infection through contact with mucous membranes and open wounds. Also, you can get sick by eating food or water that is contaminated with urine or droppings. Airborne transmission can be transmitted by inhaling dust that contains small particles of mouse excrement.

The risk group includes villagers, farm workers, cleaners, builders. Most often, men are ill, in the age category from sixteen to fifty years. They just usually work in such jobs that are at high risk. The disease is characterized by seasonal outbreaks, which usually occur from late May to mid-October.

Speaking specifically about Russian Federation, then the Urals and partly the Volga region will be the foci of this virus.

Mouse fever (video)

This video discusses the statistics of the incidence of mouse fever, clinical signs and diagnosis of the disease.

Symptoms of mouse fever, the course of the disease

Clinical symptoms at different stages of the disease are:

• redness of the mucous membrane of the throat;
• the appearance of pain in the lumbar region;
• general malaise;
• flat rashes on the body;
• photophobia;
• redness of the skin;
• bradycardia;

Mouse fever can be conditionally divided into several stages that follow each other.

Incubation period. Its duration is from a week to a month and a half. If you derive the arithmetic mean, then it will be equal to three weeks. There are no symptoms of the disease at this stage yet.

Initial stage. It is extremely short, its duration usually does not exceed three days. As a rule, the initial stage is characterized by an acute onset with high fever, severe weakness, chills, and muscle pain. Often there will be complaints of severe headaches, decreased concentration and the presence of dry mouth.

During a visual examination of such a patient, hyperemia (redness) of the skin of the face, neck and chest with elements of a rash like hemorrhage can be noted. In some cases, conjunctivitis may develop. A rarer option is the gradual development of the disease with the presence of a mild cough and mild malaise.

oliguric stage. It starts from the third or fourth day from the onset of the disease. The temperature is maintained, and will still reach quite high marks on the thermometer. It will begin to decrease only from the sixth or seventh day of illness, in parallel with the deterioration of the general condition of the patient.

The main clinical symptom is the presence of severe pain in the abdomen and lower back, the appearance of repeated vomiting, dehydration, and sleep disturbances. Hyperemia of the skin remains, they become very dry. The rash becomes even more pronounced. Due to kidney damage, edema appears on the face, anuria occurs.

polyuric stage. Begins from the ninth to the thirteenth day of illness. Pain subsides, vomiting stops. There is a sharp increase in the daily amount of urine up to a significant excess of normal values. The patient's condition is still characterized by general weakness. Sleep is almost non-existent.

The stage of recovery (convalescence). The patient's condition returns to normal, the kidneys begin to function normally, appetite appears, and the rash disappears.

In children, mouse fever is not always immediately recognizable. AT childhood it can often be asymptomatic for two or three weeks.

Often it is also confused with intestinal pathologies or a cold. The difference between this virus and is in the later appearance of abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea. From catarrhal diseases, mouse fever is distinguished by the complete absence of catarrhal phenomena (cough, runny nose).

The main symptoms in children will be: high fever, nosebleeds, muscle and headaches, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting.

In adults, the recovery period is much longer than in children. Sometimes it takes more than one month.

After recovery, you need to see a doctor for some more time so that he monitors whether everything is in order with health, whether the danger has really completely passed.

Diagnostics

It is not easy to make a correct diagnosis. The presence of the following factors will help in determining the correct diagnosis:

• High body temperature of unknown origin.
• The presence of characteristic clinical signs and stages of the disease.
• There was a place to be finding a person in the zones of vital activity of rodents.
• Contacts with rodents.

Laboratory research

• Urinalysis (presence of protein and erythrocytes).
• Complete blood count (decrease in the number of platelets).
• ELISA for the presence of certain antibodies.
• to detect pathological processes in the kidneys.
• Coprogram (for the presence of blood).

If necessary, additionally can be prescribed: ECG, ultrasound, chest x-ray, analysis to determine blood clotting.

Treatment in children and adults

Mouse fever is treated exclusively in a hospital. This is done by an infectious disease specialist. In no case should you fight this virus on your own, as this can be fatal.

Treatment in adults and children will be almost the same, the fundamental difference is only in the dosages of the drugs.

An extremely important point will be the observance of strict bed rest for a period of one week to a month. The exact timing is set by the attending physician, based on the severity of the disease. Limiting physical activity is necessary in order to reduce the risk of possible hemorrhages.

Therapy is carried out with infusion solutions (glucose solution, saline).

Of the medications prescribed:

• Anti-inflammatory ("Aspirin").
• Painkillers ("Ketorol", "Analgin").
• Antipyretics ("Nurofen", "Paracetamol").
• Antiviral ("Amiksin", "Ingavirin").

If there is a risk of blood clots, then drugs from the group of anticoagulants (Warfarin, Heparin) are connected to therapy. Sometimes there is a need to prescribe glucocorticoids ("Prednisolone").

In order to normalize metabolism and increase immunity, prescribe the intake of vitamins C and B.

If kidney damage is severe enough, hemodialysis may be necessary.

To make the treatment as effective as possible, a special diet is used for such patients. You need to include in your diet easily digestible foods containing a large amount of vitamins and minerals. Food should be taken several times a day, little by little. It's better if it's warm. In the presence of kidney failure, you must strictly limit yourself in proteins. It is strictly forbidden to consume citrus fruits, prunes and potatoes due to the risk of hyperkalemia.

At the beginning of the disease, you should try to drink more fluids. As mouse fever progresses, drink slightly acidified water, limit food intake.

When the symptoms subside, you can turn on the menu vegetable soups and compote, cooked from dried fruits. Then you can introduce oatmeal porridge, even later - lean meats or poultry.

Consequences of the disease

Mouse fever is dangerous for its complications. The fact is that pathogens can adversely affect almost any organ system. If the body temperature exceeds 40 degrees, then diseases such as meningitis, malaria, sepsis can develop.

Under a big blow is the urinary system. If the symptoms of the disease are ignored, a kidney rupture may occur.

Other complications:

• Cardiovascular pathologies.

Little gray mice look very cute. But…!!! They are a source of infection and very often are carriers of many diseases that can be dangerous for humans, and often incompatible with life. high temperature, severe headache, confused breathing, lethargy or confusion, a rapidly spreading rash, sharp pains in the lumbar and renal zones are clear symptoms of mouse fever in adults.

According to the analytical data of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a number of infectious diseases are transmitted to humans precisely from rodents (field mice, rats, squirrels). Adults endure the course of the disease much harder than children. Their body is characterized by the appearance of extensive symptoms and the development of various complications, while sometimes it can only proceed like a cold. The most susceptible to infection are men aged 16-50 years.

Incorrect or late diagnosis, improperly selected treatment or its absence can provoke a fatal outcome. Although there is no cure for the virus itself, maintenance therapy makes it easier to endure the disease.

What is mouse fever?

mouse fever- a natural focal rare infectious disease with an acute course (hemorrhagic fever, accompanied by renal, pulmonary or cardiac syndrome), where the reservoir of the pathogen is an animal (rodent class).

The causative agent of the disease: Hantavirus (Hantavirus), having different strains.

Damage zones: small vessels, renal apparatus, lungs, heart.

Geography: in Eurasia, a type of virus is common that causes kidney syndrome, i.e. damages the kidneys. In this case, the disease has a medical name (HFRS), leading to mortality in 10% of cases. Mostly found in Scandinavian countries epidemic nephropathy(EN), which is one of the types of HFRS, but its mortality is several times lower.

An infected rodent is a carrier of the infection for two years. And it is assumed that only certain types of virus can kill them. In other cases, the virus does not pose a serious danger to the rodent.

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome- a rarer type of mouse fever, which is predominantly ill in America. But according to statistics, it leads to death about 7 times more often (76%).

Demography: Anyone can get sick, but men aged 16-50 are more likely to get sick.

Incubation period averages 12-15 days, but the individual tolerance of an adult, as well as the state of the immune system and a predisposition to resistance, can increase the incubation period from up to 8 weeks.

Disease severity: varies depending on the virus causing the disease. Hantaan and Dobrava virus infections tend to cause severe symptoms, while Saaremaa and Puumala are more easily tolerated. Full recovery may take several weeks or months.

Since we usually have a mouse fever accompanied by a renal syndrome, the article will focus mainly on it.

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Etiology (paths of infection)

Adults can contract mouse fever in several ways.

Indirect contact with mouse feces or urine (airborne)

A common way for adults to contract mouse fever is to ingest the virus from mice through inhalation of dust particles that have been contaminated with the feces or urine of an infected rodent. Dust particles contain infected rodent excrement and, getting into the upper respiratory tract, the virus infects the body. Most of all, people are susceptible to infection, in whose work contact with dust containing rodent secretions is possible. These are janitors, cleaners, builders in old buildings, etc.

Direct contact with urine and feces of mice (alimentary route)

Mouse feces or urine may contain viruses and bacteria. Thus, direct physical contact with mouse feces, especially if it is through open wounds or mucous membranes, can be a route of disease transmission to humans. Ingestion of food or water contaminated with mouse droppings and urine can also cause fever.

Bites and scratches

An infected mouse contains disease-causing bacteria and viruses on its teeth, in saliva and under its claws. Therefore, often scratches and bites of mice are potential sources of fever infection.

Insect bites

Fleas and ticks that can live in the fur of rodents can also become carriers of the disease. As a result, they can bite people. With this outcome, viruses and bacteria are transmitted to humans and cause mouse fever.

Carcass contact

Mouse fever is an acute infectious disease, the active virus of which lingers in the tissue of a rodent even after its death. Contact of an adult with a mouse carcass without proper protection may result in transmission.

Positive moment. Mouse fever is a one-sided disease. This means that it is transmitted only from mice to humans. An infected person is not the source of the mouse fever virus. Mouse fever infection is not transmitted from person to person.

But for all the time, there was still a single case of transmission of the disease from person to person in Argentina during the outbreak of the virus.

Clinical signs

The disease is characterized by three stages of development:

• severe intoxication of the body;
• severe kidney damage;
• hemorrhage (hemorrhage of the affected from the affected vessels).

A neglected disease (lack of timely treatment) often acquires an irreversible process with a fatal outcome.

Diagnostics

Complicated diagnosis of the disease hinders its treatment. Experienced doctors recommend paying attention to the color of urine, as well as to the quantitative indicators and frequency of urination (sudden changes in the "habitual" indicators clearly indicate the disease).

Fever goes through four stages of its manifestation:

1. Initial (phase of origin or prodromal phase).
2. Oligouric (phase of progression of the disease).

AT this stage of the development of the disease in an adult, the kidneys are affected and the hemorrhagic syndrome begins its active phase.

1. Polyuric phase
2. Stage of convalescence (passive phase of the disease).

The second and third periods are distinguished by a clear progression of the disease. New symptoms appear, which are characterized by the intensity of development.

Symptoms

The first symptoms of mouse fever in adults:

• mouse fever is always accompanied by fever;
• the mark is located within 40 0 ​​;
• severe dizziness and pain;
• the whole body overcomes weakness, malaise;
• the mucous membrane of the pharynx acquires a red color;
• pains in the kidneys and lumbar region become noticeable.

Sometimes signal symptoms are supplemented:

• decrease in heart rate;
• decrease in blood pressure;
• acute reaction to bright light (negative reaction of the patient to light streams accompanied by the formation of a "grid" before the eyes);
• redness on the face, neck;
• the appearance of flat rashes in the armpit and on the body.

initial stage

The initial (prodromal or febrile) phase is accompanied by a number of symptoms:

• a sharp rise in temperature;
• trembling and chills;
• headaches;
• muscle pain;
• blurred vision (eyes turn red);
• hemorrhagic rashes on the neck, shoulders due to vascular damage;
• inability to concentrate.

Symptoms of mouse fever in men at the initial stage are usually more pronounced than in women. On examination, the doctor very often detects Pasternatsky's symptom (pain in the kidneys when tapped). If the disease is advanced, then signs of meningitis may also be observed.

This phase takes 3-7 days and usually occurs 2-3 weeks after the bite.

Hypotensive phase

In addition to the above symptoms, the patient receives tachycardia, hypoxemia (lack of oxygen) and. This is due to the fact that the level of platelets in the blood falls. This condition can last up to 2 days.

Oligouric stage

The oliguric stage (impaired kidney function) begins its active phase after 4-7 days and is accompanied by:

• decrease in temperature in the patient;
• the appearance of sharp unbearable pain in the lumbar region;
• dehydration. The volume of urine decreases significantly (urine acquires a reddish color, and its daily amount fluctuates between 200-500 ml). Symptoms of dehydration include dry mucous membranes, sunken eyes, and decreased urine output in most people.
• lack of proper sleep;
• decreased appetite (possible severe vomiting);
• heart rhythm is abnormal. His score is much lower.

Hemorrhage becomes pronounced:

• possible hemorrhage into the skin (fragility of small vessels)
• various types of bleeding.

Despite the drop in temperature, the patient feels just as bad.

The duration of the stage is usually 3-7 days.

Polyuric (diuretic) stage

Symptoms:

• frequent urination (symptoms of diuresis) 3-6 liters per day;
• the proper functioning of the kidneys is impaired;
• swelling of the eyelids, face;
• worried about headaches;
• there is no sleep.

It may take from several days to several weeks.

Stage of convalescence (rehabilitation eta)

Signs:

• general health improves;
• urination indicators are normalized;
• there is a good appetite;
• pain in the lumbar region is less pronounced.

This stage lasts 4-5 days., and indicates an amendment, but not yet a complete recovery. In an adult, the process of convalescence lasts much longer than in children and it may take more than one month for a full recovery.

Complications - what to fear?

Mouse fever is dangerous for its side effects. Bacterial microorganisms can affect almost any organ system.

Extreme temperatures (typically greater than 105.8°F or 41°C) can be devastating. High body temperature can lead to poor performance of most organs. Such an extreme height temperature regime of the body entails serious illnesses (for example, sepsis, malaria, meningitis).

In the initial stage, they are very reminiscent of acute respiratory infections, so many people prefer to be treated at homewithout going to the doctor. However, this disease can give serious complications to the kidneys, as well as lead to a sharp deterioration in blood composition and the formation of blood clots, which is fraught with death.

The first manifestations of the disease begin 2-3 weeks after infection. In the initial period, the duration of which is from 1 to 3 days, the temperature rises sharply (up to 39-40 ° C), there is a strong chill, pain in the head, muscles and joints, weakness, dry mouth. The eyes become hypersensitive to light. The skin of the face, neck and upper part turns red.

A small rash may also appear, localized in the armpits and sides of the body.

Then comes the second period of illness, lasting about a week. The main symptom of mouse fever at this stage is pain in the lumbar region, accompanied by frequent vomiting. Moreover, vomiting occurs regardless of the intake of food or medication. On swelling, urination becomes difficult.

Often there is also pain and swelling in the abdomen.

As already mentioned, at the beginning of the disease it can be confused with a strong form of acute respiratory infections. However, the second period is completely different. It is necessary to immediately consult a doctor (if this has not already been done), and if the diagnosis of “mouse fever” is confirmed, do not refuse hospitalization!

The third period is characterized by a gradual improvement in well-being. Lower back pain disappears, vomiting stops, urination normalizes. The patient may still feel dry mouth and weakness, but after about 1.5-2 weeks, these symptoms should disappear.

How is mouse fever treated?

As already mentioned, treatment should be carried out in a hospital, in the infectious diseases department. The patient is prescribed antiviral, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic drugs. With kidney damage and the formation of blood clots, hemodialysis and treatment with anticoagulants are performed.

The diagnosis of "mouse fever" is made by an infectious disease doctor based on the results of laboratory tests of blood and urine.

To prevent this disease, it is necessary to disinfect the premises where rodents live. Food should be stored in containers inaccessible to rodents.

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), better known as "mouse fever", is an acute viral infectious disease.

The carriers of the pathogen are rodents - field mice, rats, bats, but the bank vole is recognized as the main carrier. A person can become infected by airborne dust.

Especially dangerous, where the risk of infection is extremely high, are wooded areas.

Rural residents, foresters, mushroom pickers, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts are at risk. It should be noted that the disease is not transmitted from person to person.

Ways of contracting mouse fever

Few of us love mice that live in their minks and come out in search of their food when everything is calm around and there are no people nearby. Having found food for their food, they not only spoil and gnaw it, they thereby spread the causative agent of a dangerous disease.

Mouse fever is an acute viral disease, the causative agent of which is carried by field mice, house mice, and Norwegian rats. Rodents themselves do not get sick, but can transmit the pathogen by inheritance. Isolation of the virus in external environment occurs through the excrement of rodents. Given the recent increase in the population of murine rodents, the possibility of contracting murine fever is increasing.

Among the ways of infection, doctors distinguish the following:

• Alimentary way - when eating food or water that is contaminated with secretions with viruses;

• Contact route - by direct contact of damaged human skin with objects contaminated with excrement with viruses, or by direct contact with infected rodents.

Very often, infection occurs when sweeping the floor in forest lodges, when cleaning basements and sheds, when eating infected water or food.

A sick person is not dangerous to others, since the disease is not transmitted from person to person.

Mouse fever symptoms

The duration of the incubation period can be on the order of 7-46 days, but the most frequent period is 21-25 days. The initial period, oliguric (characterized by hemorrhagic and renal manifestations), the polyuric period and the convalescence period are those actual periods of the course of the disease that characterize murine fever. Symptoms of mouse fever in children appear gradually, while their first manifestations can be seen only on the fifteenth or even twentieth day after the infection has occurred. Among them are the following:

• Temperature rise up to 40°C;
• muscle pain, joint pain;
• Chills;
• Nausea with alternate vomiting;
• Migraines of frequent occurrence;
• visual impairment;
• Severe bleeding gums, as well as bleeding from the nose.

As for adults, mouse fever has symptoms of a similar nature, the general appearance of which is presented as follows:

Initial period. Its duration is 1-3 days, it is characterized by a rather acute onset. The temperature, as we have already indicated, reaches about 40 ° C, often accompanied by chills. There is a headache quite strong in its manifestation, the patient's condition is accompanied by dry mouth, general weakness. Examination reveals the presence of signs of skin hyperemia (neck, face, upper thoracic regions), conjunctivitis occurs, in some cases a hemorrhagic rash appears.

2-4 - 8-11 days of illness. As in the previous period, the disease is characterized by fever, which lasts up to 4-7 days. A decrease in temperature does not lead to an improvement in the general condition, moreover, it may even worsen. Typical manifestations for this period are lower back pain with varying degrees of severity. With the appearance of pain in the lumbar region, vomiting also occurs (6-8 or more times a day), while it is not associated with the use of drugs or food. There is also pain in the abdomen, often bloating. A characteristic manifestation of the disease is expressed in kidney damage, which causes puffiness of the face, a positive symptom of oliguria, pastosity of the eyelids.

9-13 days. Polyuric period. Vomiting stops, pain in the abdomen and lower back gradually disappears, appetite and sleep return to normal, the daily amount of urine excreted increases. Dry mouth and weakness persist, the recovery period comes gradually, from 20-25 days.

Diagnosis of mouse fever

In order to diagnose the disease, it is necessary to have such factors as:

• Contact of the patient with rodents or objects infected with the virus;

• Being in the zone of vital activity of carriers of the virus (countryside, field, country cottage area etc.);

• The change in the stages of the disease, the presence of its signs and symptoms, characteristic of mouse fever;

When diagnosing a disease in the laboratory, a doctor prescribes a number of tests, which include:

• Polymerase chain reaction - a method for detecting viruses that allows you to identify the genetic materials of the pathogen in the blood;

• Enzyme immunoassay - an analysis that determines the presence in the patient's blood of special antibodies designed to fight the pathogen;

• Complete blood count (suspicion should cause a low platelet count);

• Urinalysis (erythrocytes and protein will be detected in case of illness);

• Biochemical blood test (to identify problems with the kidneys);

• Fecal analysis (blood found in the stool indicates bleeding in the digestive system).

For diagnostic purposes, a blood coagulation test, ultrasound, electrocardiography, and chest X-ray may be prescribed. Treatment of the disease is carried out by a therapist and an infectious disease specialist. You may also need to contact an epidemiologist.

Mouse Fever Treatment

With mouse fever, treatment is exclusively stationary. If you have symptoms that are similar to hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, in no case do not self-medicate, as you can only harm yourself. Be sure to contact an infectious disease specialist.

Like most infectious pathologies, treatment of mouse fever is symptomatic. The therapy is carried out in a hospital with the participation of specially trained personnel. The basis of the treatment regimen is to limit movements and ensure rest throughout the illness, including during the recovery period. This is because there is a high risk of hemorrhage, bleeding and thrombosis. The duration of bed rest depends on the severity of the disease: with a mild form, it should be about a week, moderate - 2-3 weeks, and severe - 3-4 weeks. The duration of bed rest is mandatory until complete recovery. The success of treatment depends on early referral to a specialist. During treatment, it is important proper care for the patient, careful monitoring of the condition of the skin and mucous membranes, the level of blood pressure, daily diuresis and the nature of the stool.

Various antiviral drugs are prescribed, such as amixin, lavomax, etc.
Antipyretics help reduce fever. The most common are paracetamol and nurofen. With severe pain in the patient, it is necessary to administer painkillers, for example, ketorol or analgin. All drugs should be prescribed and canceled only by a doctor. Infusion therapy with glucose and saline is widely used. Vitamins C and group B will help improve metabolism and the functioning of the immune system. If necessary, the patient is prescribed hormonal drugs (dexamethasone, prednisolone, etc.). If there are violations of blood clotting, anticoagulants are indicated - heparin, warfarin.

In hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, the most different ways breeding toxic substances- oral and intravenous administration salt solutions, the use of sorbents. In severe cases, there is a need for hemodialysis.

Nutrition Features

An important component of treatment is the rational nutrition of patients. Food at the same time should be easily digestible with a sufficient amount of proteins and vitamins. Food should be fractional, in 4-5 doses, the food is warm, but in no case hot. Vegetables (carrots, beets, cabbage) are recommended to be served mashed. With severe manifestations of acute renal failure, the amount of protein is limited, as well as fruits and vegetables that contain a lot of potassium (prunes, citrus fruits, potatoes) due to the danger of hyperkalemia and azotemia. In the early days of mouse fever, when there are no kidney dysfunctions, plenty of fluids are indicated ( mineral water, fruit drinks, fruit juices, teas). In the period of acute manifestations, nutrition should be parenteral; during the recovery period, a vegetable-milk light diet is recommended with enrichment with vitamins that strengthen the walls of blood vessels - C, K, PP.

After recovery, the patient is observed by a general practitioner and infectious disease specialist for a long time. Immunity remains for life, so repeated cases of mouse fever are excluded.

Folk treatments for mouse fever

Mouse Fever Treatment folk remedies more focused on reducing kidney damage6

• Flax seeds. 1 tsp seeds pour 200 ml of water, bring to a boil, cool and filter. Drink half a glass every 2 hours. Such treatment lasts 2 days;

• Cowberry. For 1 cup of boiling water take 2 tbsp. l. crushed leaves of this plant. The drug is kept in a water bath for 30 minutes, then cooled and consumed in half a glass 3 times a day;

• Cornflower blue. For 400 ml of boiling water take 1 tbsp. l. the color of cornflower, insist for half an hour, after which it is filtered. Drink a decoction half an hour before meals. The entire volume of the drug is drunk during the day. Horsetail. For 200 ml of boiling water, take 2 tsp. herbs, insist 1 hour, then filtered. During the day, you need to drink the entire infusion;

• Orthosiphon. For 200 ml of boiling water, take 3 g of dried crushed leaves of this plant. The drug is boiled for 5 minutes, after which it is insisted for 4 hours. Take warm in half a glass twice a day before meals. This decoction is a potent diuretic;

• Corn silk and honey. 10 g of crushed corn stigmas are poured into ½ cup of boiling water and infused for 1 hour, then filtered. The broth is cooled and 2 tsp are added. honey. Drink 1-3 tbsp. l. decoction every 3 hours. Treatment lasts 5 days;

• Buckwheat. The flowering tops of this plant have a healing effect. For 1 liter of water, take 40 g of chopped buckwheat grass, boil for 5 minutes, then cool, filter and drink throughout the day. This remedy prevents the manifestation of hemorrhages in thrombohemorrhagic syndrome;

• Geranium. A decoction of the roots of this plant is useful for hemorrhages. For 1 liter water take 4 fresh fragrant geranium roots. The roots are washed, cut and boiled for 20 minutes, then cooled and filtered. Drink ½ cup of decoction every 20 minutes during the day. Treatment lasts until the patient's condition improves;

• Currant. Freshly prepared currant juice is useful for thrombohemorrhagic syndrome. Juice drink 50-150 ml three times a day.

Complications of mouse fever

The possibility of developing complications in murine fever is very high. Infectious influence can cause:

• development of focal pneumonia;

• accumulation of extravascular fluid in the lungs, provoking their edema;

• rupture of renal tissue;

• acid-base imbalance leading to the development of urination;

• convulsive and fainting conditions;

• inflammatory changes in the renal tissues;

• sudden cessation of renal function.

There are known cases of complications with the manifestation of meningoencephalitic symptoms.

With a mild and moderate clinical picture of the disease, and timely treatment, the prognosis is good and nothing threatens life. Mortality can be caused by untimely treatment and, as a result, the development of complicated processes.

Prevention of mouse fever

There are no measures that will completely avoid infection with mouse fever. The most effective way is to protect food and water from rodents with the help of closed containers.

In addition, contact with rodents must be avoided. For rural residents, it is recommended to carry out deratization regularly. Such measures will reduce the risk of infection to a minimum.

Mouse fever is a dangerous disease, therefore, when the first signs of intoxication of the body appear, which do not disappear within two days, you need to seek qualified medical help.

Mouse fever is an acute viral pathology. It is spread by rodents. The scientific name for the disease is hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). The infection is characterized by severe manifestations of the excretory organs and blood vessels. The initial symptoms of the disease may resemble those of the flu. Often the patient does not attach importance to them, and the visit to the doctor is postponed. Meanwhile, the pathology progresses, and the virus infects the kidneys. Late treatment can lead to serious complications and even death.

The causative agent of the disease and ways of spread

Mouse fever is caused by hantavirus. It is quite resistant to cold, but quickly dies at temperatures above +50 degrees. In Russia, there are 2 types of this infection:

1. East Virus. It is found in regions Far East and spread by mice - Manchurian voles. It causes the most severe and dangerous forms of the disease, in which mortality reaches 20%.
2. Western virus. Observed in the European part of Russia. It is spread by native species of mice - the red one, and the fever caused by this type of infection is milder. It leads to death in only 5% of cases, usually with untimely or insufficient treatment.

Hantavirus passes from mice to humans in the following ways:

1. Through dust and air. The virus enters the body by inhalation of dry rodent excrement in the form of dust.
2. Through food. If the food is contaminated with particles of mouse feces, then the infection enters the body through the stomach.
3. Through skin contact. You can become infected by coming into contact with objects contaminated with rodent secretions. Sometimes infection occurs through the bite of an animal.

It is important to remember that this disease is never transmitted from a sick person to a healthy one. A patient with mouse fever does not pose any danger to others. You can only get infected from animals.

After an illness, a person develops a strong immunity. It is impossible to re-infect this disease.

Mouse fever in men is much more common. Women suffer from this disease quite rarely. This is due to the fact that infection often occurs during agricultural work, in which predominantly men are employed. The incidence usually increases in autumn and winter.

However, this does not mean that you can get this disease only by living in the village. If mice live in a city apartment, then there is a rather high risk of infection.

Infection often occurs during the collection of mushrooms and berries in the forests where voles live, or during work in garden plots. Children are infected in summer time, during the holiday season in pioneer camps and at dachas.

Stages of the disease

To understand the symptoms and treatment of mouse fever, you need to understand how the virus spreads throughout the body. The infectious agent enters the body through the respiratory tract, stomach or skin lesions. If a person works well the immune system, then it quickly destroys the virus. But when the body is weakened, the infection begins to multiply, and a disease occurs. Pathology has several stages:

1. incubation period. It can last a different time - from 1 week to 1.5 months. But on average, the latent period lasts 12-14 days. At this time, the virus multiplies in the body.
2. feverish period. The infection enters the bloodstream and causes intoxication of the body. This stage does not last long, about 2-3 days.
3. period of oliguria. The virus begins to infect the vascular walls, which causes bleeding. The pathogen leaves the body with urine. This leads to damage to the vessels of the kidneys. This is the most severe stage of the pathology, which lasts from 3 to 9-11 days of the disease.
4. period of polyuria. This stage of the disease is the beginning of recovery. Symptoms of mouse fever gradually disappear from 11 to 30 days of illness.
5. Full recovery. This period lasts from 1 to 3 years.

It should be noted that the recovery of the body after an infection takes a long period. The consequences of infection can affect the functioning of the body for several months and even years after the disappearance of acute symptoms.

Mouse fever in women is milder than in men. The manifestations of the disease are not so pronounced. However, asymptomatic and erased pathology is not observed.

Incubation and febrile period

During the incubation period, the patient does not feel any change in well-being. Then the first signs of mouse fever appear:

1. The patient's temperature rises sharply (up to +39.5 ... +40 degrees). The febrile stage of pathology begins. The fever lasts for about 6 days. At the same time, higher temperatures are observed in the morning and afternoon. By evening, the fever is somewhat reduced.
2. There are phenomena of intoxication: aching joints, thirst, loss of appetite, general malaise.
3. The patient suffers from severe headaches, which are aggravated by bright light and eye movement.
4. The skin of the patient becomes hot, a plaque is noticeable on the tongue.
5. Patients have redness of the face, neck and eyes. Doctors call this symptom the "hood symptom." The face looks swollen.
6. At very high temperatures, symptoms resembling meningitis can occur: severe headache with vomiting, tension in the neck muscles, impaired consciousness. This is due to the reaction of the central nervous system to intoxication.
7. In severe cases, blood pressure drops sharply and a state of shock occurs.

It should be noted that the same manifestations are observed in many other pathologies. Symptoms of mouse fever in adults in the initial period resemble severe influenza, meningitis and many other diseases that occur with high fever and intoxication of the body. There are no specific signs of this infection (hemorrhages, kidney damage) yet. It is often difficult to make an accurate diagnosis at this stage.

Symptoms of mouse fever in children during this period are similar. But in a child, the disease is more severe. It begins acutely, without warning. Already at the initial stage, back pain is observed due to kidney damage. Children become lethargic, drowsy, constantly lying in bed.

Oliguria

At this stage, the specific symptoms of mouse fever develop. The temperature gradually drops, but the patient's condition does not improve, but becomes even more severe.

There are signs of kidney damage, which manifest themselves in lumbar pain of varying intensity. Often this is accompanied by bloating and discomfort in the abdominal cavity. The amount of urine excreted (oliguria) decreases sharply, even with sufficient fluid intake. Because of this, the patient develops edema. In the analysis of urine, the amount of protein increases.

Another manifestation of the disease are hemorrhages and bleeding (hemorrhagic syndrome). The skin is covered with small red dots. There are hemorrhages in the eyeballs. One of the symptoms of mouse fever in women is uterine bleeding. Reddish impurities can be found in urine and feces. Hemorrhages from the nose and intestines are noted. In the photo below you can see hemorrhagic rashes with this disease.

Patients have severe nausea. Sometimes patients vomit even from a sip of water. There are jumps in blood pressure. Frequent complaints of abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Hemorrhages in the brain may occur. At the same time, signs of damage to the central nervous system occur: confusion, delirium, hallucinations, fainting.

Polyuria

During this period, patients feel better. Hemorrhages gradually resolve. The excretory function of the kidneys is being improved. At this stage of the disease, patients dramatically increase the amount of urine (up to 10 liters per day). This is called polyuria. Approximately 1 month after the onset of the disease, urination returns to normal.

convalescence period

Recovery of the body after the disease takes a long period (1-3 years). There are residual effects in the form of weakness, increased fatigue. After the illness, many patients experience a slight dysfunction of the nervous and hormonal systems, which manifests itself in increased sensitivity of the limbs, thirst, and sweating. One of the residual symptoms of mouse fever in men during the recovery period may be impotence.

Within 3-6 months, discomfort and heaviness in the lower back, nighttime urge to urinate, thirst, increased diuresis may persist.

Possible Complications

The disease can lead to serious complications. They usually develop at the oligouric stage. The dangers of a fever include:

1. Uremia. Due to a sharp decrease in the amount of urine, the body is poisoned by decay products. There is vomiting, an unpleasant odor from the patient's skin, a state of inhibition. Urination may disappear completely. Often this condition ends in a coma with a fatal outcome.
2. Cardiovascular insufficiency. The complication occurs at the initial stage due to intoxication of the body or during the period of oliguria due to hemorrhage in the adrenal glands. The patient has a sharp drop in blood pressure, while there is a strong tachycardia.
3. Damage or complete rupture of the renal capsule with hemorrhages. In this case, there are severe unbearable pain in the lower back.
4. Hemorrhage in the pituitary gland. It is characterized by the development of drowsiness, and then a coma.
5. Accession of a bacterial infection. Against the background of hemorrhagic fever, pneumonia or pyelonephritis may occur.

Diagnostic methods

Diagnosis and treatment of mouse fever are carried out in a hospital setting. If this disease is suspected, the patient is hospitalized in the infectious or therapeutic department of the hospital.

The following types of examinations are prescribed:

• general blood and urine tests;
• Ultrasound of the kidneys;
• test for antibodies to the virus.

Only an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibodies can unequivocally indicate the presence of a virus. The results of other studies speak about the disease only indirectly. In the general blood test, elevated ESR and leukocytes are usually noted, and in the urine a reduced density and an increase in protein are detected. Ultrasound of the kidneys shows swelling and changes in the parenchyma.

Treatment Methods

Treatment of the disease is carried out for at least 4 weeks. Within 2-4 weeks, the patient must comply with bed rest. The patient is prescribed a sparing diet with a restriction of coarse food and a predominance of fresh and lean food. It is necessary to ensure that the patient consumes a sufficient amount of fluid.

Therapy of the disease is carried out by the following methods:

1. A specific immunoglobulin is administered against hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. This is the only method of treatment that affects the cause of the pathology. All other therapy is symptomatic.
2. Patients are given droppers with infusion solutions. This method of treatment helps to reduce intoxication and cause some increase in diuresis. Use solutions of glucose with insulin, "Prednisolone", "Lasix", as well as saline. If urination does not increase, then "Kurantil", "Eufillin", "Dopamine" are prescribed intravenously.
3. To stop the pain syndrome, "Analgin", "Ketorol", "Ibuprofen", "Baralgin", "Spazgan" are used.
4. To reduce the temperature, drugs with paracetamol are prescribed.
5. Antibiotics in this disease are ineffective, since the pathology is not caused by bacteria, but by a virus. Prescribe drugs "Ingavirin", "Amiksin", "Lavomax", "Jodantipirin", "Virazole". They are able to fight viral infection.
6. Anti-inflammatory drugs are used: Piroxicam, Aspirin.
7. To increase immunity, general strengthening agents are used: vitamins C, K and group B.
8. Nausea and vomiting are stopped with drugs "Cerukal" and "Ceruglan".
9. In severe kidney damage, hemodialysis is performed ("artificial kidney").

The patient is discharged from the hospital not earlier than 3-4 weeks of illness. Within a year after recovery, you must follow a diet and avoid physical activity. Kidney function is fully restored only 2-3 years after the disease. Within 1-3 years, the patient must regularly visit the attending physician and undergo all necessary examinations.

Prevention measures

There is currently no vaccine for mouse fever. In natural foci during the outbreak of the disease, it is recommended to take the antiviral drug "Yodantipyrin" for prophylactic purposes.

Also, to prevent infection, deratization (destruction of rodents) is carried out. It is necessary to avoid contact with mice, keep food away from them and thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits. Food must be subjected to heat treatment, as the virus dies at high temperatures. When carrying out work in places where rodents accumulate, it is useful to use a gauze bandage on the face, this will protect against inhalation of contaminated dust.