17897 Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

Overview

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a rare but serious lung infection caused by a virus. The virus is carried by some wild rodents, especially deer mice. People usually get it by breathing in dust that has small amounts of mouse urine, droppings, or saliva in it. It starts like the flu and can quickly make it hard to breathe. HPS is not spread from one person to another.

No. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is very rare. Most reported cases happen in rural areas of the Americas, especially in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. It is extremely uncommon in the UK and most of Europe.

Anyone can get HPS, but the highest risk is for people who live, work, or travel in areas where affected rodents live. This includes farmers, forest workers, campers, hikers, and people who open or clean sheds, barns, or cabins that have been closed for a while.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Fever
• Muscle aches, especially in the thighs, hips, back, and shoulders
• Headache
• Fatigue or feeling very tired
• Chills
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Dizziness

Symptoms in children

• Children may have the same flu-like symptoms as adults, but they can become dehydrated quickly.
• Watch for fast breathing, flaring of the nostrils, or a cough that gets worse.
• A child with a fever and trouble breathing needs emergency care right away.

Symptoms in older adults

• Older adults may have more severe breathing problems and confusion.
• They can develop low blood pressure or dehydration more quickly, so it is important to seek care early.
• Falls or fainting can happen if blood pressure gets too low.

Causes

Main causes

• Breathing in dust that contains hantavirus particles from mouse droppings, urine, or nesting materials
• Touching something contaminated with rodent urine or droppings and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
• Being bitten by an infected rodent, though this is rare

Risk factors

• Living in or visiting rural areas where infected rodents, such as deer mice, are common
• Opening or cleaning sheds, barns, cabins, or other closed buildings that have not been used for a while
• Camping or sleeping in places with mouse activity, such as huts or picnic shelters
• Working in farming, forestry, warehousing, or pest control

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• If you have a fever plus any cough or shortness of breath within 5 weeks of possible rodent exposure, seek medical advice the same day.
• If you have a headache, muscle aches, and a dry cough, and you have recently visited an area where hantavirus is known to occur.

Book a routine appointment if:

• If you are worried about a possible exposure and want to talk about your risk, you can make an appointment with your doctor.
• If you have flu-like symptoms that last more than a few days and you want to be checked.

Diagnosis

A doctor will ask about your symptoms and any contact with rodents or dusty places. They will also listen to your lungs and may order blood tests to look for hantavirus antibodies (proteins your body makes to fight the virus). Because HPS can worsen quickly, a doctor may decide to admit you to a hospital for observation even before test results come back.

Tests that may be done

• Blood tests to check for hantavirus antibodies
• Chest X-ray to look for fluid in the lungs
• Blood tests to measure oxygen levels, blood counts, kidney function, and other organ health
• In severe cases, a sample of fluid from the lungs may be taken by a specialist to help guide treatment

What to expect at your appointment

While the tests are being done, you may be given oxygen to help you breathe. You should be prepared to stay in the hospital until the doctor is sure your condition is stable. HPS can progress quickly, so doctors often keep close watch on your breathing and blood pressure.

Treatment

There is no specific medicine that cures hantavirus. Treatment focuses on supporting your body while it fights the infection, especially helping you breathe. The sooner you get hospital care, the better your chance of recovery.

Self-care at home

• Do not try to treat severe symptoms at home — HPS can become life-threatening quickly.
• Take pain or fever medicines only after checking with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Rest and drink fluids if you are at home and your doctor has said it is safe.
• Stay away from any area where you might still be exposed to rodent droppings.

Medical treatments

In hospital, treatment includes oxygen, close monitoring of your breathing and blood pressure, and IV fluids to keep you hydrated. If breathing becomes very difficult, a machine called a ventilator may be used to help you breathe. Medications may be given to support blood pressure and help your organs. In certain situations, doctors may consider antiviral medicines, but this is decided on a case-by-case basis according to local guidelines.

When is surgery considered?

Surgery is not a treatment for HPS. In the most severe cases, a specialist center may use a heart-lung bypass machine called ECMO to give the lungs time to heal, but this is not surgery and is only available in a few hospitals.

Living with this condition

Recovery from HPS can take several weeks or even months. You may feel tired, short of breath, and weak for a while. It is important to attend follow-up appointments, rest when needed, and let your healthcare team know if symptoms come back or get worse.

Lifestyle tips

• Rest as much as possible and slowly increase activity only when your doctor agrees.
• Do not go back into a space that may still have mice until it has been properly cleaned and sealed.
• If you smoke, ask your healthcare team for help to quit — smoking makes lung recovery harder.

Diet and exercise

Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and protein to help your immune system. Drink enough fluids, especially water. For exercise, start gently (like short walks) and only do more when your doctor says it is safe.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Going through a serious lung infection can be frightening and stressful. You may feel anxious, worried about your breathing, or low in mood. These feelings are normal. Tell your doctor or nurse if your emotions are affecting your daily life, because support is available.

Prevention

Yes, you can reduce your risk by avoiding contact with rodents and their droppings. Keep areas clean, store food in sealed containers, use traps, and seal holes where mice can enter. If you need to clean a space with droppings, open the windows first, wear gloves, spray the area with bleach or a household disinfectant, and avoid stirring up dust.

Vaccines

There is no vaccine to protect against hantavirus.

Screening programmes

There is no routine screening test for hantavirus. If you think you may have been exposed and later develop a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, see a doctor right away.

Complications

If left untreated

• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a severe condition in which the lungs fill with fluid and cannot provide enough oxygen to the blood
• Very low blood pressure (shock), because the virus damages the lining of blood vessels
• Fluid build-up in the chest that makes breathing even harder
• In severe cases, organ failure and death

Long-term outlook

HPS is a serious illness, but with early hospital support, many people do survive and recover. The risk is highest when symptoms are ignored or emergency care is delayed. Going to a hospital as soon as you notice breathing problems gives you the best possible chance.

Find support

International organisations

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Hantavirus ↗
• World Health Organization (WHO) – Hantavirus ↗

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