Rats are very common in our homes, aren't they? Sometimes we don't pay much attention to these animals. But did you know that these little creatures can cause serious diseases for us? Today we are going to talk about a disease that is transmitted by animals like rats and can even affect our nervous system. We call this Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis, or LCM for short.
Simply put, what is this LCM?
This is a disease caused by a virus. This virus (LCM virus) is a type of `(RNA virus)`. It usually first infects animals like mice, hamsters, and guinea pigs. The common mouse (`Mus musculus`) that we find in our homes is the main carrier of this virus. Imagine, even though these animals are infected with the virus, they often appear healthy. Some animals carry the virus in their bodies throughout their lives without showing any signs of illness. That means they can spread this disease as long as they live.
How do we get this disease?
This is the most important thing. The virus can be found
in the urine, saliva, feces, and other objects that an infected animal has. Now imagine, if you are cleaning your house and you are removing a rat's droppings, if you have a small scratch or wound on your hand, the virus can enter your body through that. Also, if you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with your hands that have touched these dirty objects, you can also become infected through that. If you are bitten by an animal, that is also a risk.
The best part is that this disease is not usually transmitted from person to person . So even if you get this infection , your family or those at work have nothing to fear from you.
However, there is
one area where we need to be especially careful . If a pregnant mother gets this infection, the virus can be transmitted to the baby in the womb through the placenta. This is very dangerous for the baby. In such a case, the baby can develop complications such as:
- Congenital hydrocephalus: This can cause the baby's head to become abnormally large.
- Mental retardation due to brain development
- Eye damage (Chorioretinitis): The retina and internal structures of the eye can be damaged.
- Abnormally small head (Microcephaly): This condition occurs when the brain does not develop properly in the womb.
- Visual impairments
Also, this virus can be transmitted during organ transplants.
What are the symptoms when people get it?
Many people (about 5% of the population) who are exposed to this virus do not show any symptoms. If your immune system is strong, you may not even notice that you are sick. However, for people with weakened immune systems, such as pregnant women, it can be serious. If symptoms do appear, they usually appear between 8 and 13 days after exposure to the virus. The disease is
biphasic . This means that the first stage of symptoms appears, subsides for a few days, and then the second stage begins again.
| Disease stage | Symptoms to expect |
|---|
| Phase 1 ( lasts about a week) | Fever, body aches, loss of appetite, severe headache, nausea, and vomiting. Some people may also experience sore throat, cough, chest pain, and joint pain. |
| Phase 2 (affecting the nervous system) | This is the stage where the condition becomes serious. It can lead to meningitis or encephalitis. • Meningitis: High fever, headache, stiff neck. • Encephalitis: Confusion, drowsiness, paralysis. Sometimes the spinal cord is affected (myelitis), causing muscle weakness and loss of consciousness. |
This virus does not directly kill brain cells. However, when our immune system responds to it, large numbers of white blood cells accumulate in the brain. The chemicals they produce can cause swelling and damage to the brain and the membranes that cover the brain (meninges). The good news is that a healthy person can recover completely from this. The death rate is less than 1%. However, as with any disease that affects the nervous system, some people can develop long-term problems (e.g., deafness, arthritis) after recovery.
How do you find this, Doctor?
If you have pets like rats, or if you live in an environment where rats are present, and you have the symptoms we've discussed,
be sure to see your doctor . Because these symptoms are similar to many other viral illnesses, your doctor may run several tests to make an accurate diagnosis.
- Blood test ( Full Blood Count ): This may show a decrease in white blood cells (leukopenia) and a decrease in blood platelets (thrombocytopenia).
- Liver Function Tests: Liver enzyme levels may be elevated.
- Spinal Tap/CSF Study: This test checks for increased white blood cells and decreased glucose levels in the cerebrospinal fluid.
- Antibody Tests: These tests look for specific antibodies to this virus in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid.
- PCR test: This can accurately detect the presence of genetic material (polymerase chain reaction - PCR) of the virus.
What are the treatments?
If you have a minor illness, your doctor will prescribe home treatments. This includes giving you medicine to control symptoms like fever, headache, and vomiting. This is called
supportive treatment . However, if you have a serious condition like meningitis or encephalitis, you will need
to be hospitalized . Sometimes, in cases of acute hydrocephalus, emergency surgery may be needed to relieve the pressure. There is currently no antiviral medication specifically for this condition that is recommended for people. Although the drug ribavirin has been shown to be effective in laboratory tests, there is no evidence that it works in people.
Most importantly: How can you survive this?
Prevention is always better than cure. There are some simple things you can do to protect yourself from this dangerous infection.
- Stop mice from entering your home: Seal up any openings in your home, such as cracks in walls and crevices, where mice can enter.
- Cleanliness: Always wear gloves when cleaning areas where rats live and where their droppings are. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap after cleaning.
- Take care of your pets: If you have a hamster or other rodent, keep their cages clean. When cleaning the cages, do it outside or in a well-ventilated area.
- Stay away from wild animals: Do not have any contact with wild rodents.
- How to love your pets: Avoid kissing or holding your pet rat or hamster close to your face.
People at particular risk should avoid handling rats altogether: pregnant women, those who are planning to become pregnant soon, and those with weakened immune systems due to diseases such as cancer, HIV, or other medications. It is best to have someone else in the house take care of your pets.
Take-Home Message
- LCM is a viral disease transmitted through the feces and urine of animals such as rats.
- While most people do not experience symptoms, some may experience fever, body aches, and in the most severe cases, conditions such as brain fever can develop.
- This is very dangerous for pregnant mothers , as it can cause serious complications for the unborn baby.
- Prevention is the best way to prevent rodent infestations. It is essential to control rodents in the home and maintain cleanliness.
- If symptoms develop after exposure to rats, see your doctor without delay.
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis, LCM, rat fever, viral infections, diseases transmitted by rats, brain fever, pregnancy, rodent-borne disease, meningitis, encephalitis
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