What is lassa fever? Lassa fever is a hemorrhagic fever condition caused by Lassa virus infection that predominately occurs in West Africa. About 20% of those infected become very ill and for some of them this virus infection proves to be fatal.
Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease that’s usually spread to humans via excretions of an infected rodent known as multimammate rat. Although once infected, you are contagious and can transmit the virus to others via your bodily fluids.
Most cases of Lassa fever are mild and cause no symptoms. However for those with a severe case, this virus typically infects multiple organs, systems and tissues, like your liver, spleen, kidneys, intestines, lungs, urinary system, vascular system and mucosa. Therefore, a variety of symptoms can result because of the widespread affects Lassa virus has on your body, including:
- fever
- cough
- myalgia
- diarrhea
- back pain
- headache
- petechiae
- chest pain
- proteinuria
- sore throat
- hypotension
- face swelling
- conjunctivitis
- abdominal pain
- nausea, vomiting
- overall weakness
- mouth, nose, vagina, gastrointestinal bleeding
In the later stage, you may experience neurological problems like shock, seizures, tremors, confusion and coma. Regardless of severity, varying degrees of hearing loss can be a permanent outcome in anybody who suffers from Lassa fever.
Treatment for Lassa fever starts with taking Ribavirin, an antiviral drug. For the best results, this drug needs to be started early in the course of your viral infection. Other forms of treatment may involve fluid replacement, electrolyte replacement, oxygen therapy and blood transfusion.