Due to the speedy increase in the spread of Lassa Fever across the nation, 9jastreet.com have decided to share the important things to know about the deadly fever. Read the?symptoms, prevention as well as the treatment below;
According to Wikipedia, Lassa fever or Lassa hemorrhagic fever (LHF) is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus and first described in 1969 in the town of Lassa, in Borno State, Nigeria. Lassa fever is a member of the Arenaviridae virus family. Similar to ebola, clinical cases of the disease had been known for over a decade, but had not been connected with a viral pathogen.
Prevention
Control of the Mastomys rodent population is impractical, so measures are limited to keeping rodents out of homes and food supplies, as well as maintaining effective personal hygiene. Gloves, masks, laboratory coats, and goggles are advised while in contact with an infected person. These issues in many countries are monitored by a department of public health. In less developed countries, these types of organizations may not have the necessary means to effectively control outbreaks.
Symptoms
After an incubation period of six to 21 days, an acute illness with multiorgan involvement develops. Nonspecific symptoms include fever, facial swelling, and muscle fatigue, as well as conjunctivitis and mucosal bleeding. The other symptoms arising from the affected organs are:
Gastrointestinal tract
Nausea
Vomiting (bloody)
Diarrhea (bloody)
Stomach ache
Constipation
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
Hepatitis
Cardiovascular system
Pericarditis
Hypertension
Hypotension
Tachycardia (abnormally high heart rate)
Respiratory tract
Cough
Chest pain
Dyspnoea
Pharyngitis
Pleuritis
Nervous system
Encephalitis
Meningitis
Unilateral or bilateral hearing deficit
Seizure
Treatment
All persons suspected of Lassa fever infection should be admitted to isolation facilities and their body fluids and excreta properly disposed of.
Early and aggressive treatment using ribavirin was pioneered by Joe McCormick in 1979. After extensive testing, early administration was determined to be critical to success. Additionally, ribavirin is almost twice as effective when given intravenously as when taken by mouth.
Fluid replacement, blood transfusion, and fighting hypotension are usually required. Intravenous interferon therapy has also been used