Lassa fever history and symptoms

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Ammu Susheela, M.D. [2]

Synonyms and keywords: Lassa hemorrhagic fever; LHF

Overview

Lassa fever after an incubation period of six to twenty-one days, manifest as an acute illness with multiorgan involvement and patients present with gastrointestinal, neurological and pulmonary symptoms.

History

In 80% of cases the disease is inapparent, but in the remaining 20% it takes a complicated course. After an incubation period of six to twenty-one days, an acute illness with multiorgan involvement develops.

Diagnosis

The current case definition for suspecting Lassa fever is as follows..

Unexplained fever at least 38oC or 100.4oF for one week or more
And 1 of the following:
▸ No response to standard treatment with the choice of regimen for most likely cause of fever (malaria, typhoid fever).
▸ Readmitted within 3 weeks of inpatient care for an illness with fever.
And 1 of the following
▸ Edema or bleeding.
▸ Sore throat and retrosternal pain/vomiting.
▸ Spontaneous abortion following fever.
▸ Hearing loss following fever.

Common Symptoms

• Because the symptoms of Lassa fever are so varied and nonspecific, clinical diagnosis is often difficult.
• Non-specific symptoms include the following.

• Fever-Almost 100%
• Headache- 85%
• Muscle fatigue- 80%
• Retrosternal pain (pain behind the chest wall)-80%
• Weakness-77%.
• Dizziness-75%
• Sore throat-70%
• Back pain
• Cough-70%
• Vomiting-65%
• Abdominal pain-60%
• Diarrhea-40%
• Mucosal bleeding-40%

Less Common Symptoms

The other symptoms arising from the affected organs are:

• Gastrointestinal tract.
  • Vomiting blood-25%.
  • Diarrhea (bloody)-25%.
  • Constipation.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Yellow discoloration of skin and sclera.
• Cardiovascular system.
  • Facial or neck swelling.-15%
  • High blood pressure.
  • Low blood pressure.
  • Palpitations.
• Respiratory tract.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Sore throat.
• Nervous system.
  • Tremor.
  • Unilateral or bilateral hearing loss.
  • Seizures.

References

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