How to Diagnose Powassan Encephalitis

Powassan Encephalitis (POW Encephalitis) is a rare but serious tick-borne disease. POW Encephalitis has no cure, so prevention of tick bites through insect repellent and proper clothing is the best method of staying safe from the disease.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Determine if the victim was recently in the areas inhabited by the Woodchuck Tick. These areas include eastern and western US states as well as Canada. Reported cases have originated in Canada, Maine, Vermont and New York.
2. Find out when the victim was in one of these areas. POW Encephalitis has a 7 to 14 day incubation period. Symptoms begin to occur anywhere from 4 to 18 days after the tick bite. Most cases occur between April and October.
3. Compare the victim's symptoms. POW Encephalitis symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, and stiff neck. More serious are the internal implications, which are brain and spinal inflammation. The disease cannot be spread from person to person.
4. See a doctor for the proper laboratory tests. The doctor should order a serology lab test that looks for the POW virus antibodies.
5. Continue supportive therapy to help relieve symptoms and further confirm that POW Encephalitis is the culprit. During this time, a hospital stay is required. That way the patient receives IV fluids, and respiratory assistance through a ventilator and protection from further infections. There is no cure for POW Encephalitis, but the disease carries only a 10 percent morbidity rate.

Tips & Warnings

• POW Encephalitis has been confirmed in 38 different mammal species, so the disease is not restricted to humans.