Lassa fever history and symptoms
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]; Ammu Susheela, M.D. [3]
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.[1]
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.
- Nervous system.
- Tremor.
- Unilateral or bilateral hearing loss.
- Seizures.