Viral hemorrhagic fevers (Ebola, Lassa)

Description The Ebola and Lassa...

Description

The Ebola and Lassa viruses are 2 of 18 viruses known to cause viral hemorrhagic fever. The disorder involves an overall damage to the vascular system manifested by bleeding and multi-organ dysfunction. The virus is not present in the U.S. but can be acquired by traveling to sub-Sahara Africa. The disease is frequently fatal. The disease can be acquired by handling infected fecal matter of infected rodents.

Symptoms

Headache, fever, swollen eyes, abdominal pain, bloody stools, vomiting blood, nose bleeding, diarrhea.

Tests

Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment

Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. Additional tests will be done to establish the diagnosis and determine the severity of infection.

Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), Electrocardiogram (EKG), Lipase, Troponin, Urinalysis (UA), X-ray

Other Specific Tests: Serologic blood tests, viral culture, PT (Protime), PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time), Antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Antigen-capture detection tests, Serum neutralization test, Electron microscopy

Specialists:
Infectious Disease Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Disease Medicine

Treatment

There is no cure for the disease. The damage done by the virus is aggressively treated and medications may include: intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, mechanical ventilation if respiratory failure occurs, and/or antibiotics for super imposed bacterial infections. The disease is not universally fatal, but full recovery can take months.