Pioneering the Practice of Medicine
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Pioneering the Practice of Medicine: Dr. Paul Carson
In 2003, West Nile virus was responsible for the largest epidemic of infections transmitted by mosquitoes in North America. North Dakota was at the center of the epidemic with 617 reported cases and five deaths. MeritCare subsequently became the center of a groundbreaking study.
The medical community already knew that West Nile in its most severe form (encephalitis) could lead to long-term health problems. But that did not explain the oddity noted by Dr. Paul Carson, MeritCare infectious disease specialist. Many of his patients with West Nile fever, a milder form of the disease, also complained of ongoing health problems.
With a MeritCare Foundation grant, Dr. Carson and colleagues pursued a formal investigation. The investigation involved 49 patients with West Nile fever or a more serious form. Thirteen months after infection, they underwent a battery of tests. Common findings included problems with fatigue, memory, headaches, depression, tremors and difficulty with manual dexterity.
"Prior to this study, we didn't appreciate the extent of ongoing morbidity related to West Nile fever," said Dr. Carson. His article "Long-Term Clinical and Neuropsychology Outcomes of West Nile Virus Infection" was published in the prestigious Clinical Infectious Diseases journal in August 2006.