Oropouche is a virus that infects humans in the Amazon River area and some parts of the Caribbean basin. It is transmitted by mosquitoes and biting midges, which pass on the virus from sloths, its animal reservoir, to humans. The virus is named for the lab where it was first isolated, which is located by the Oropouche River in Trinidad and Tobago.
General Symptoms
The general symptoms of Oropouche virus infection include fever, which begins suddenly, and chills. Patients feel weak and suffer from general malaise. Other general symptoms include muscle aches and joint pain and swelling.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Gastrointestinal symptoms include intractable vomiting. This can lead to severe dehydration. The symptoms of dehydration caused by Oropouche virus include dry lips, rapid heart rate (as the heart tries to overcome the decreased blood volume by beating more), decreased urine output, and dry or loose skin. The dehydration can affect the kidneys, resulting in acute renal failure, as well as electrolyte abnormalities like changes in the levels of sodium and potassium in the blood. Patients can become malnourished, with significant nutritional losses, including vitamin deficiencies.
Neurological Symptoms
Patients can develop altered mental status, with lethargy, irritability and confusion, which can then progress to stupor and coma. Patients can exhibit symptoms of meningitis, including a headache that worsens with positional changes, neck stiffness and photophobia (fear of bright lights). As patients become sicker, they can have generalized seizures, with whole body shaking and eyes rolled back. Seizures can be hard to control, and persistent or recurrent seizures can result in permanent brain damage.
Hematologic Symptoms
Oropouche virus belongs to a family of viruses, called Bunyaviridae, which can cause viral hemorrhagic fever. After the initial general symptoms of illness, patients develop bleeding of all body tissues, including eyes, ears, nose, mouth and anus. Patients bruise easily, and bleed from the gums. The virus interrupts the body's clotting abilities, impeding the ability of platelets to control bleeding. In severe cases, patients die from uncontrolled internal or intra-cranial bleeding.
