title: Rehabilitation outcomes of 5 patients with severe West Nile virus infection: a case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report inpatient rehabilitation outcome in severe cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Freestanding rehabilitation hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five consecutive patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital with proven WNV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  had severe neurologic manifestations and functional deficits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  FIM instrument scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On admission, overall FIM scores ranged from 31 to 68, with a mean of 44.40+/-15.85; overall FIM scores ranged from 52 to 90, with a mean of 76.00+/-15.03 at discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All patients demonstrated significant functional improvement ( P <.001). Length of stay ranged from 10 to 71 days, with a mean of 32 days. Lower functional outcome and higher cost of care were noted in patients and was attributable to severe muscle weakness and axonal neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, Wheaton, IL, USA. nrao@marianjoy.org
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Char
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gnatz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*