Description

Viral hemorrhagic (hem-uh-RAJ-ik) fevers are infectious diseases that can be life-threatening. Can damage the walls of the small blood vessels, causing them to leak. And it can prevent the blood from clotting.

Some viral hemorrhagic fevers are:

  • Crimean-Congo.
  • The Dengue Fever.
  • Ebola.
  • Hantavirus.
  • Lassa.
  • Marburg.
  • Yellow fever.

These diseases most often occur in the tropics, such as central Africa. In the united States, the majority of people who get them have traveled to one of these areas.

There are vaccines and treatments for only a few types of viral hemorrhagic fevers. Until there are vaccines for most of them, do your best to prevent viral hemorrhagic fevers.

Symptoms

The symptoms of viral hemorrhagic fevers vary by the disease. Mainly, the earliest symptoms may include:

  • Fever.
  • Tiredness, weakness or feeling of discomfort.
  • Muscle, bone and joints.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • The diarrhea.

The symptoms that may put his life in danger

Worst of the symptoms include:

  • Bleeding under the skin, in the interior of the body or of the mouth, eyes or ears.
  • Nervous system problems.
  • State of Coma.
  • Confused thinking and not be aware of their surroundings, called delirium.
  • The renal failure.
  • Difficulty breathing, called respiratory failure.
  • Liver failure.

When to see a doctor

The best time to see a health care professional before travelling to a country where they could get an infectious disease. Then you can get vaccinations and pre-travel advice for staying healthy.

If you have symptoms once you return home from your trip, talk to a health professional. If possible, see a trained medical international, or infectious diseases. Tell your care provider where you traveled.

Causes

Viral hemorrhagic fevers are spread by contact with infected animals. The viruses that cause viral hemorrhagic fevers live in many animal hosts. Most often, the hosts are mosquitoes, ticks, rodents, non-human primates or bats.

How is it transmitted?

The mosquito or tick bites spread some viral hemorrhagic fevers. Infected bodily fluids, such as blood, saliva, or semen, is extended to other viral hemorrhagic fevers. You can get a couple of guys by the inhalation of infected rat feces or urine.

Some viral hemorrhagic fevers can also be spread from person to person.

If you are travelling to an area where a hemorrhagic fever is common, you may be infected but do not develop symptoms until after you return home. It can take from 2 to 21 days for symptoms. Depends on the type of virus.

Risk factors

Live in or travel to an area where a certain viral hemorrhagic fever is common, increases the risk of becoming infected with the virus. Other factors that may increase your risk include:

  • Work with infected people.
  • Kill or eat infected animals.
  • Having unprotected sex with an infected person.
  • Work outdoors or in rat-infested buildings.
  • Being around infected blood or other body fluids.

Complications

Viral hemorrhagic fevers can cause:

  • The septic shock.
  • Failure in more than one organ.
  • Death.

Prevention

It can be difficult to avoid viral hemorrhagic fevers. If you live, work or travel in areas where these diseases are common, the use of protective barriers when working with blood or body fluids. For example, use gloves, gowns, eye masks, and face shields. Also be careful working with lab samples and waste.

Get vaccinated

The vaccine against yellow fever is mostly safe and works well. But rarely, serious side effects can occur. The vaccine against yellow fever is not for children under 9 months of age, pregnant women, or for people whose immune system does not work well.

There is also an Ebola vaccination that protects against a type of Ebola virus. It is for health professionals working in the areas of outbreak. Check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the countries they plan to visit. For some, you must show that you have been vaccinated.

Watch out for mosquitoes and ticks

Do your best to stay away from mosquitoes and ticks when you are traveling in areas that have outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers. Wear light-colored long pants and long sleeve shirts. Or, better yet, wear clothes that are coated with permethrin. Do not put the permethrin on the skin.

Try not to be outside at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. Make mosquito repellent with a 20% to 25% concentration of DEET on skin and clothing. If you are staying in tents or hotels, the use of mosquito nets and mosquito coils.

Guard against rodents

If you live in a place where there are outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers, take measures to keep rodents out of your house:

  • Keep pet food covered and stored in rodent-proof containers.
  • Store garbage in rodent-proof containers. To clean the container often.
  • Get rid of the garbage frequently.
  • Make sure that doors and windows have screens that fit well.
  • Keep your stack of firewood, piles of bricks and other materials of at least 100 feet away from your house.
  • Cut the grass up close. Trim brush to within 100 feet of your home.

Diagnosis

If you think you may have a viral hemorrhagic fever, contact your health care professional. Let the office know what you think that you have. You may be sent directly to an emergency room. Make sure that the emergency room know that you can have a viral hemorrhagic fever before you go.

The diagnosis of viral hemorrhagic fevers in the first days of the disease can be difficult. The first symptoms such as high fever, muscle aches, headaches, and extreme fatigue, are common to many other conditions.

Tell your healthcare provider about your medical and travel history, and if you've been around animals, especially mosquitoes, ticks, rodents, non-human primates or bats.

Name the countries that you have visited and the dates. Tell of any contact you may have with sources of infection.

Lab tests, most often using a blood sample, it can confirm a diagnosis. You most often have these tests, in special laboratories. That is because the hemorrhagic fevers are so easy to catch.

Treatment

There is No treatment for the majority of viral hemorrhagic fevers other than supportive care.

Drugs

The antiviral drug ribavirin (Virazole) might shorten the course of some infections, such as Lassa fever. And the Food and Drug Administration has approved monoclonal antibody therapies Inmazeb and Ebanga to treat Ebola.

Therapy

Supportive care can help you feel better while your body fights the infection. For example, to avoid losing too much fluid, called dehydration, you may need to receive fluids through a vein of an arm, called an IV. This can help to maintain the balance of minerals necessary for the nerves and muscles, called electrolytes.

Surgical and other procedures

Kidney dialysis might help some people. Kidney dialysis removes waste from the blood when the kidneys fail.

Preparing for your appointment

If you think you may have a viral hemorrhagic fever, contact your health care professional. Let the office know what you think that you have. You may be sent directly to an emergency room. Make sure that the emergency room know that you can have a viral hemorrhagic fever before you go.

What you can do

  • Make a note of the symptoms, as when they began.
  • Write your travel story and if you've been around animals, especially mosquitoes, ticks, rodents, non-human primates or bats. Name the countries that you have visited and the dates. Tell of any contact you may have with sources of infection.
  • Make a list of all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you are taking.
  • Write down any questions that you ask your health care professional.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask several questions, including:

  • When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
  • You have recently traveled to areas where the viral hemorrhagic fevers are the extension?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • Is there something to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of Viral hemorrhagic fevers