Symptoms
The first symptoms of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) may resemble those of other common illnesses. HPS symptoms usually begin 1 to 5 weeks after exposure to the virus and usually last 3 to 5 days (prodromal phase). Symptoms that almost always occur in the early stages of HPS are:
- Sudden fever.
- Muscle pain (myalgia), especially in the thighs, hips, and back, and sometimes in the shoulders.
- Fatigue.
In the early stages of HPS, about one-half of the people also develop:
- Headache.
- Chills.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Abdominal (belly) pain.
- General feeling of being ill (malaise).
- Dizziness and lightheadedness.
Other, less common symptoms of HPS that may occur include:
- Joint pain.
- Chest pain.
- Sweating.
About 4 to 10 days after the initial symptoms appear, late symptoms usually develop, including:
- Shortness of breath.
- Coughing.
- Rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing, indicating fluid buildup in the lungs (pulmonary edema).
After these symptoms develop, a person's condition rapidly deteriorates, and hospitalization within 24 hours often is needed. Even people with mild cases of the infection need to be treated in a hospital.
HPS may be mistaken for other conditions with similar symptoms, such as the flu or pneumonia.
