Symptoms Of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

Fatigue

An early sign of infection by hantavirus is fatigue. Following incubation, the symptomatic period of the disease begins, with typical viral symptoms of fatigue, malaise, and fever. As hantavirus pulmonary syndrome worsens, the second stage of the illness known as the cardiopulmonary stage begins. During this time the virus causes the capillaries in the lungs to leak fluid into the alveoli. This produces acute respiratory distress syndrome, a type of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. A protein-rich liquid moves from the blood into the alveoli of the lungs making gas exchange difficult. This requires ventilatory support to prevent internal drowning. The fluid-filled lungs are ineffective at oxygenating the body tissues leading to extreme weakness on top of other symptoms.

Get to know the next symptom of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome now.