Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS): Symptoms

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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.

Last updated:	March 03, 2008
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine, Mark A. Rasmus, MD - Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC