What diseases can be contracted from mice and what are their symptoms? - briefly
Mice can transmit hantavirus (fever, muscle aches, respiratory distress), salmonellosis (abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever), leptospirosis (headache, chills, jaundice) and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (headache, meningitis, confusion). Prompt medical evaluation is required if any of these symptoms appear after exposure.
What diseases can be contracted from mice and what are their symptoms? - in detail
Mice serve as reservoirs for a range of pathogens that can affect humans through direct contact, bites, inhalation of contaminated dust, or consumption of contaminated food and water. The most frequently encountered illnesses include:
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Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS)
- Early signs: fever, muscle aches, dizziness, gastrointestinal upset.
- Progression: rapid onset of coughing, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, and fluid accumulation in the lungs, potentially leading to respiratory failure.
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Leptospirosis
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Salmonellosis
- Common presentation: diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
- Severe cases may cause bloodstream infection, leading to fever, chills, and organ involvement.
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Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection
- Prodromal phase: fever, headache, malaise, and sore throat.
- Neurological involvement: meningitis or encephalitis with stiff neck, photophobia, confusion, and seizures.
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Bacterial infections from Streptobacillus moniliformis (rat‑bite fever)
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Tularemia (rare but documented in rodent‑associated outbreaks)
- Forms: ulceroglandular (skin ulcer, swollen lymph nodes), pneumonic (cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing), and typhoidal (fever, headache, abdominal pain).
- Untreated disease may result in severe systemic illness and death.
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Plague (Yersinia pestis)
- Bubonic form: painful swollen lymph nodes (buboes), fever, chills, and weakness.
- Pneumonic form: fever, cough with bloody sputum, rapid respiratory deterioration.
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Hepatitis E
Awareness of these conditions, prompt recognition of their clinical patterns, and immediate medical evaluation are essential for reducing morbidity and preventing complications.