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BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal FROM THE TOP: Lula Neal talks about her 14-year-old son Joey's first trip to Mardi Gras, while sitting with him in his room at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center on Wednesday. Joey is recovering from West Nile virus. Here, he sleeps while his sister. Denise Howell, from left; mother, Lula Neal; and niece, Jessica Howell, 14, talk about his illness.
It would be a horror story to any mother. Your child comes down with several strange symptoms that just won't go away, even after rest and medication. Lula Neal knew something was wrong - but tests weren't finding the microscopic culprit that was dragging down her normally energetic 14-year-old son.
"I wish I would never had got it," whispered Joey Neal, who will start his freshman year at Lowry High School in Winnemucca this fall. Only about three hours before, Joey was sprawled on his hospital bed at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center with a low heart rate. He's recovering now - which involves a lot of sleep. Neal has stayed by her son's side since he was admitted Sunday night.
"It really upset me that he had the West Nile Virus because you always see things about it in the paper," Neal said Wednesday while sitting beside her son's bed. "It just scared me."
He should be spending his summer skateboarding and playing basketball - both things he most loves to do - rather than sleeping the days away. July and August haven't been much fun for this brown-haired, hazel-eyed teen who almost never gets sick, his mother said.
She thinks he probably got bit last week by the mosquito carrying West Nile Virus while at the skate park in Winnemucca. He was also recovering from mononucleosis at the time.
"I didn't even think about West Nile Virus," Neal said. "I remember the bite because it was pretty big."
During one of his many doctor visits, Joey was prescribed pain medicine for a sore back and antibiotics for an infection on his toe. His mother is glad he had the minor toe infection - otherwise the virus doctors didn't know he had at the time could've been a lot worse.
The total human West Nile cases in Nevada has reached 17, which is one less than last week because of a duplicate reporting out of Washoe. Carson City has had two cases. Last year, there weren't any reported for Carson City.
Humboldt County is the highest with eight human cases, only two months into the West Nile virus season that stretches from July to October.
"Roughly 80 percent of those who are infected show no symptoms or very mild symptoms," said health division spokeswoman Martha Framsted. "And in that case, you wouldn't necessarily be sick enough to go to your doctor."
About one in 150 experience the more severe form of the disease, West Nile encephalitis or meningitis or West Nile poliomyelitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Joey is one of those.
After a time when it seemed like her son was getting better, Joey's health took a dive. Neal said her son started running a fever, which he quenched by drinking glass after glass of ice water.
"He hadn't eaten anything since that Thursday, and I had grapes and Gatorade in the house and he had that - which was not a good idea, because he threw up all over the house," Neal said. "I just had this feeling that something was more serious."
Her daughter in Carson City, Crystal Lopez, recommended that Joey visit Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center's emergency room. They drove much of the day and got to Carson City late Saturday.
"I wish I would never had got it," whispered Joey Neal, who will start his freshman year at Lowry High School in Winnemucca this fall. Only about three hours before, Joey was sprawled on his hospital bed at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center with a low heart rate. He's recovering now - which involves a lot of sleep. Neal has stayed by her son's side since he was admitted Sunday night.
"It really upset me that he had the West Nile Virus because you always see things about it in the paper," Neal said Wednesday while sitting beside her son's bed. "It just scared me."
He should be spending his summer skateboarding and playing basketball - both things he most loves to do - rather than sleeping the days away. July and August haven't been much fun for this brown-haired, hazel-eyed teen who almost never gets sick, his mother said.
She thinks he probably got bit last week by the mosquito carrying West Nile Virus while at the skate park in Winnemucca. He was also recovering from mononucleosis at the time.
"I didn't even think about West Nile Virus," Neal said. "I remember the bite because it was pretty big."
During one of his many doctor visits, Joey was prescribed pain medicine for a sore back and antibiotics for an infection on his toe. His mother is glad he had the minor toe infection - otherwise the virus doctors didn't know he had at the time could've been a lot worse.
The total human West Nile cases in Nevada has reached 17, which is one less than last week because of a duplicate reporting out of Washoe. Carson City has had two cases. Last year, there weren't any reported for Carson City.
Humboldt County is the highest with eight human cases, only two months into the West Nile virus season that stretches from July to October.
"Roughly 80 percent of those who are infected show no symptoms or very mild symptoms," said health division spokeswoman Martha Framsted. "And in that case, you wouldn't necessarily be sick enough to go to your doctor."
About one in 150 experience the more severe form of the disease, West Nile encephalitis or meningitis or West Nile poliomyelitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Joey is one of those.
After a time when it seemed like her son was getting better, Joey's health took a dive. Neal said her son started running a fever, which he quenched by drinking glass after glass of ice water.
"He hadn't eaten anything since that Thursday, and I had grapes and Gatorade in the house and he had that - which was not a good idea, because he threw up all over the house," Neal said. "I just had this feeling that something was more serious."
Her daughter in Carson City, Crystal Lopez, recommended that Joey visit Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center's emergency room. They drove much of the day and got to Carson City late Saturday.
On his first day, he was tested multiple times. Nothing came back as positive. Neal said she couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing something because Joey was still lethargic.
"On Sunday morning, the doctor said there was one more test he would like to do, that it was necessary but painful," Neal said. "I still had this feeling something was wrong, so I told him to go ahead and remove spinal fluid.
"I knew it hurt him (Joey) because he kept flinching. But the doctors were so good."
Two hours later the test results came back: Joey had meningitis. On Monday they found out it was caused by West Nile Virus.
"I was glad to know what it was, but it really scared me," she said.
Denise Howell, another one of Joey's sisters who lives in Carson City, said family members should be looking out for the virus. Victims can be sensitive to light, have neck stiffness and fatigue.
"Go in and get a blood test," she said. "Get antibiotics, don't let it wait. Wear mosquito repellent."
It's going to take Joey a few weeks to recover, doctors have told Neal. He won't be allowed to go to the skate park any time soon, his mother said.
Her son feels a little differently. It's the first place he wants to go when he's well.
• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
About West Nile virus
• A seasonal epidemic that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall, West Nile Virus is spread by mosquitoes that acquire the infection when they feed on infected birds.
"On Sunday morning, the doctor said there was one more test he would like to do, that it was necessary but painful," Neal said. "I still had this feeling something was wrong, so I told him to go ahead and remove spinal fluid.
"I knew it hurt him (Joey) because he kept flinching. But the doctors were so good."
Two hours later the test results came back: Joey had meningitis. On Monday they found out it was caused by West Nile Virus.
"I was glad to know what it was, but it really scared me," she said.
Denise Howell, another one of Joey's sisters who lives in Carson City, said family members should be looking out for the virus. Victims can be sensitive to light, have neck stiffness and fatigue.
"Go in and get a blood test," she said. "Get antibiotics, don't let it wait. Wear mosquito repellent."
It's going to take Joey a few weeks to recover, doctors have told Neal. He won't be allowed to go to the skate park any time soon, his mother said.
Her son feels a little differently. It's the first place he wants to go when he's well.
• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
About West Nile virus
• A seasonal epidemic that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall, West Nile Virus is spread by mosquitoes that acquire the infection when they feed on infected birds.
• It's important to wear insect repellent with Deet when outdoors, especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Long sleeves and pants are recommended, and people should remove any standing water around their homes that could provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
• It is estimated that about 20 percent of people who become infected with West Nile will develop West Nile fever. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash - on the trunk of the body - and swollen lymph glands. While the illness can be as short as a few days, even healthy people have reported being sick for several weeks.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
By the numbers
West Nile human cases in Nevada:
Total for July and August: 17
Carson City: 2
Lyon County: 1
Douglas County: 3
Churchill: 1
Washoe County: 1
Humboldt County: 8
• It is estimated that about 20 percent of people who become infected with West Nile will develop West Nile fever. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash - on the trunk of the body - and swollen lymph glands. While the illness can be as short as a few days, even healthy people have reported being sick for several weeks.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
By the numbers
West Nile human cases in Nevada:
Total for July and August: 17
Carson City: 2
Lyon County: 1
Douglas County: 3
Churchill: 1
Washoe County: 1
Humboldt County: 8
Elko County: 1
Total in 2005 July-October: 30
By the numbers
West Nile human cases in Nevada:
Total for July and August: 17
Carson City: 2
Lyon County: 1
Douglas County: 3
Churchill: 1
Washoe County: 1
Humboldt County: 8
Elko County: 1
Total in 2005 July-October: 30
Total in 2005 July-October: 30
By the numbers
West Nile human cases in Nevada:
Total for July and August: 17
Carson City: 2
Lyon County: 1
Douglas County: 3
Churchill: 1
Washoe County: 1
Humboldt County: 8
Elko County: 1
Total in 2005 July-October: 30
