Rehabilitation outcomes of 5 patients with severe West Nile virus infection: a case series.

Abstract

To report inpatient rehabilitation outcome in severe cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection. Retrospective case series. Freestanding rehabilitation hospital. Five consecutive patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital with proven WNV infection. had severe neurologic manifestations and functional deficits. Not applicable. FIM instrument scores. On admission, overall FIM scores ranged from 31 to 68, with a mean of 44.40+/-15.85; overall FIM scores ranged from 52 to 90, with a mean of 76.00+/-15.03 at discharge. All patients demonstrated significant functional improvement ( P <.001). Length of stay ranged from 10 to 71 days, with a mean of 32 days. Lower functional outcome and higher cost of care were noted in patients and was attributable to severe muscle weakness and axonal neuropathy.