Viral Hemorrhagic Fever

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Retrieved

2021-01-23

Source

Orphanet

Trials

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Genes

TFRC, POLDIP2, AIMP2, CRK, MAPK14, GRAP2, MAPK1, AHSA1, RNF19A, MAFK, MGAM, EEF1E1, ZNF197, MMRN1, TRIM2, DDX58, LAMP3, TNF, ERVW-1, TLR8, ATRAID, TMBIM4, LAMTOR1, ERVK-6, IFIH1, ROBO3, TRIM6, TPPP2, ERVK-20, UBE2I, ARSF, TLR3, CDKN2C, CFL1, DAG1, DDX3X, EIF4E, ESR1, HMGB1, HSPA5, IFNA1, IFNA13, IFNG, IL1B, IL6, CXCL8, IL10, LAMP1, LSAMP, MYD88, PDR, PSMD4, PLAAT4, CCL3, SRSF1, SI, H3P12

Drugs

2-Ethylbutyl (2S)-2-{[(S)-{[(2R,3S,4R,5R)-5-(4-aminopyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-7-yl)-5-cyano-3,4-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran-2-yl]methoxy}(phenoxy)phosphoryl]amino}propanoate, Fibrinogen-coated albumin spheres, Ribavirin

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Viral hemorrhagic fever is a group of recently discovered contagious viral infections characterized by severe, multiple, and often fatal hemorrhages. African fevers include Lassa fever discovered in 1969, Marburg's disease that first occurred in 1967, and Ebola fever that appeared in 1976. Other viruses may also cause hemorrhagic fevers (for example, arbovirus fever).

Clinical description

Regarding Lassa fever, after a 7-day incubation period, fever and ulcerating hemorrhagic pharyngitis occur, followed by pleuropneumonia. The disease then progresses to either spontaneous cure or to profuse digestive or pulmonary bleeding that leads to death in 35 to 70% of cases. Transmission of Ebola between humans occurs mainly via direct contact with the disease or with infected biological products, rather than by the air-borne route. Clinical manifestations appear after a 4-16 day incubation period, initially with fever, cephalalgia, myalgia and conjunctival suffusion. Digestive symptoms then appear, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and are associated with leuco-thrombocytopenia. The next stage is marked by hemorrhage in the nose, intestines or genitalia. Biological findings include an isolated elevation of transaminases and stigmatas of disseminated intravascular coagulation. The disease is usually fatal within a few days.

Etiology

The reservoir for Lassa fever is a rodent which transmits the virus to humans directly, with no need of a vector. Ebola and Marburg viruses belong to the filoviridae viral family, but their reservoirs remain unknown. The source of the first documented Marburg epidemic was a group of African green monkeys imported from Uganda. Ebola virus causes deadly localized epidemics centered around central Africa.

Management and treatment

Treatment is symptomatic. Secondary prevention within hospital services consists of the total isolation of affected patients. The disease is notifiable.