Lassa Fever
– How to know when a person has Lassa fever.
– Symptoms as well as prevention of Lassa fever.
Lassa fever is a disease that is caused by a viral infection. It is one of the hemorrhagic fever viruses.
Lassa fever is not contagious from person to person, rodents often transmit the Lassa virus to human beings.
Also, Lassa fever is often acute and fatal, it might last for weeks. As a severe viral disease that occurs in West Africa, it is also a disease of the blood, liver, and spleen.
Also, this viral infection is difficult to differentiate from other infections common to West Africa, it requires a rigorous laboratory test to detect it.
The causes and risk factors of Lassa fever include the following;
1. The main cause of Lassa virus is a rodent known as the Multimammate Rat of the genus Mastomys.
2. Also, a person can contract this disease through spread to people through contact with household items or food contaminated with the rodent droppings or urine.
3. Also, if a person eats the remains of a rodent either consciously or unconsciously, one can contact it. For instance, if a rodent eats your food item and you go ahead to eat that particular food item, you can have the disease.
4. Also, when you inhale aerosols in the air that is contaminated with rodent excretions or urine, you can have it.
5. One can also contact the disease through cut and sores on the body.
The symptoms of Lassa fever are;
- Fever and headaches.
- A sore throat.
- Muscle aches.
- Skin rash
- Abdominal pain, back pain, and chest pain.
- Vomiting and diarrhea.
- Malaise and body weakness.
Major ways to treat Lassa fever include; the use of Ribavirin, an antiviral drug that doctors use to treat people with Lassa fever.
Appropriate fluid and electrolyte balance is also another measure.
Generally, doctors are in the best position to treat this disease. Go to a hospital if you notice any of the symptoms.