Description Ebola virus infecti...
Description
Ebola virus infection often causes damage to the vascular system manifested by bleeding and multi-organ dysfunction. Without intensive supportive care, it can be fatal. The Ebola virus is thought to have originated from fruit bats and then introduced to humans through contact with infected animals. Ebola virus can be transmitted between humans but transmission only occurs when there is direct contact with bodily fluids of a person who is ill. Infected fluids may include blood, sweat, vomit, urine, semen, feces, and saliva. Ebola virus is not airborne, and cannot be transmitted through the air. The 2014 Ebola outbreak is the largest in history, most severely affecting the West African countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
Symptoms
Symptoms include headache, fever, swollen eyes, abdominal pain, bloody stools, vomiting blood, nose bleeding, diarrhea. Symptoms can be very similar to those of malaria, typhoid fever, and meningitis.
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
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
Currently, there is no cure for the virus. Treatment for Ebola is primarily supportive, and can include intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, mechanical ventilation if respiratory failure occurs, and/or antibiotics for super imposed infections. The disease is not universally fatal, but full recovery can take months. There are no licensed vaccines available, but there are two Ebola vaccines currently undergoing evaluation and safety testing. There are also other investigational treatment products that are in the early stages of development but have yet to be tested for efficacy and safety.