Ebola fever: symptoms, signs, as transmitted by the Ebola virus
Ebola haemorrhagic fever is an extremely dangerous acute highly contagious disease that is caused by a virus, accompanied by vascular damage, a bleeding disorder, characterized by severe course and a high mortality rate.
Foci of the disease are fixed in the center and in the west of Africa, near the rainforests.
The debut of the virus, dating back to 1976, occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the village of Yambuku, which is located near the Ebola River. Hence the name of the fever. That year, 430 people died.
By August 2014, 1,427 deaths were recorded for data from the World Health Organization. Ebola fever is now recognized as threatening the whole world.
Viruses are considered to be chimpanzees, antelopes, gorillas, rodents and bats. The disease spreads from person to person due to close contact with biological fluids( blood, discharge) of sick people and animals.
Funeral rituals play a large role in the spread of fever, as people in contact with the body are at risk of becoming ill. It is known that after the death of a person the virus does not die immediately, therefore the corpse needs to be cremated.
There are cases of intralaboratory infection when conducting manipulations with experimental animals. The personnel is exposed to the risk, which catches and manages the monkeys during the quarantine period. The spread of the Ebola virus is still poorly understood.
It is believed that it does not surrender by airborne droplets, but it can mutate, which means that the transmission modes also change.
Infection gateways are mucous membranes and skin lesions. The mechanism of pathogenicity of the virus is not completely understood, but it has been established that it has the property of suppressing immune defense. Its structural proteins prevent the proliferation of lymphocytes and the production of interferon by the body. The virus also affects monocytes.
After infection of these cells, the infectious agent spreads with the blood flow, generalizes the infection with the development of general intoxication. There is a DIC-syndrome in which thromboplastic substances are released from the tissues provoking a clotting disorder.
There may be two variants of development. In one case, the infection develops in the direction of coagulation disorders, and in the second - leads to multi-organ failure, which is the result of extensive damage to vital organs.
The incubation period reaches 2-3 weeks, but sometimes it lasts only two days. The disease is characterized by a sudden onset. In addition to raising the temperature to 39 ° C and strong weakness, such symptoms of Ebola fever as - headache, pain in the joints and muscles. Simultaneously, the inflammatory process begins in the throat: the tonsils are inflamed, and there is a sensation of a lump.
There is bloody indomitable vomiting, and feces in the form of melena on the background of abdominal pain.
The hemorrhagic syndrome is also manifested by cutaneous and subconjunctival hemorrhages, nasal and uterine bleeding, miscarriages in pregnant women. The development of severe bleeding associated with internal organs indicates a poor prognosis.
With the course of the disease, the functions of the brain, kidneys and liver are disrupted, signs of dehydration of the body develop. Patients are often aggressive, nervous, and convulsive seizures may occur. These are symptoms of brain damage that last for a long time during recovery.
Lethal outcome occurs approximately on the 12th day of the disease as a result of infectious-toxic shock and blood loss. In case of recovery, the recovery period is long( about three months).It is accompanied by weakness and sluggishness of the patient, loss of appetite, weight loss, inflammatory processes in the joints. Although cure is possible, the prognosis remains extremely unfavorable, and mortality rates range from 60% to 90%.
Diagnosis is based on history data, where special attention is paid to possible stay in an endemic region, contacts with sick people and clinical manifestations. Final confirmation of the diagnosis of Ebol fever allows only the conditions of a first-class equipped laboratory where various tests are conducted:
Treatment is carried out in specialized infectious hospitals with appropriate isolation. Specific treatment does not exist, and symptomatic methods aimed at managing the main clinical symptoms are usually ineffective.
To prevent dehydration, intravenous infusions and oral rehydration with electrolyte solutions are indicated. The fight against bleeding, poisoning the body, shock is carried out by conventional methods.
Traditionally, vaccines are used to fight viral infections. A number of vaccines against the Ebola virus have been developed, but they have not yet passed the entire cycle of necessary clinical trials.
Positive trends are observed with intravenous application of interferon. Sometimes it is recommended that the transfusion of the immune plasma taken from people that suffered the disease, but the effectiveness of such treatment is not proven. Continuous medical supervision and strict bed rest are indicated.
When suspected of infection with Ebola haemorrhagic fever, a specific immunoglobulin is injected by injection, which is made from horse serum.
Also, preventive measures include:
Foci of the disease are fixed in the center and in the west of Africa, near the rainforests.
The debut of the virus, dating back to 1976, occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the village of Yambuku, which is located near the Ebola River. Hence the name of the fever. That year, 430 people died.
By August 2014, 1,427 deaths were recorded for data from the World Health Organization. Ebola fever is now recognized as threatening the whole world.
How the Ebola fever is transmitted
Viruses are considered to be chimpanzees, antelopes, gorillas, rodents and bats. The disease spreads from person to person due to close contact with biological fluids( blood, discharge) of sick people and animals.
Very often, infection occurs during the care of infected people, if the appropriate measures of infection control and methods of care are not observed.
Funeral rituals play a large role in the spread of fever, as people in contact with the body are at risk of becoming ill. It is known that after the death of a person the virus does not die immediately, therefore the corpse needs to be cremated.
There are cases of intralaboratory infection when conducting manipulations with experimental animals. The personnel is exposed to the risk, which catches and manages the monkeys during the quarantine period. The spread of the Ebola virus is still poorly understood.
It is believed that it does not surrender by airborne droplets, but it can mutate, which means that the transmission modes also change.
Pathogenesis of Ebola Fever
Infection gateways are mucous membranes and skin lesions. The mechanism of pathogenicity of the virus is not completely understood, but it has been established that it has the property of suppressing immune defense. Its structural proteins prevent the proliferation of lymphocytes and the production of interferon by the body. The virus also affects monocytes.
After infection of these cells, the infectious agent spreads with the blood flow, generalizes the infection with the development of general intoxication. There is a DIC-syndrome in which thromboplastic substances are released from the tissues provoking a clotting disorder.
There may be two variants of development. In one case, the infection develops in the direction of coagulation disorders, and in the second - leads to multi-organ failure, which is the result of extensive damage to vital organs.
Symptoms of Ebola fever and signs of
The incubation period reaches 2-3 weeks, but sometimes it lasts only two days. The disease is characterized by a sudden onset. In addition to raising the temperature to 39 ° C and strong weakness, such symptoms of Ebola fever as - headache, pain in the joints and muscles. Simultaneously, the inflammatory process begins in the throat: the tonsils are inflamed, and there is a sensation of a lump.
Later, dry cough and tingling in the chest is added. In about half the cases, the maculopapular rash appears on the body, which has a draining character and leaves the scaly areas of the skin behind.
There is bloody indomitable vomiting, and feces in the form of melena on the background of abdominal pain.
The hemorrhagic syndrome is also manifested by cutaneous and subconjunctival hemorrhages, nasal and uterine bleeding, miscarriages in pregnant women. The development of severe bleeding associated with internal organs indicates a poor prognosis.
With the course of the disease, the functions of the brain, kidneys and liver are disrupted, signs of dehydration of the body develop. Patients are often aggressive, nervous, and convulsive seizures may occur. These are symptoms of brain damage that last for a long time during recovery.
Lethal outcome occurs approximately on the 12th day of the disease as a result of infectious-toxic shock and blood loss. In case of recovery, the recovery period is long( about three months).It is accompanied by weakness and sluggishness of the patient, loss of appetite, weight loss, inflammatory processes in the joints. Although cure is possible, the prognosis remains extremely unfavorable, and mortality rates range from 60% to 90%.
Diagnosis and treatment of Ebola
Diagnosis is based on history data, where special attention is paid to possible stay in an endemic region, contacts with sick people and clinical manifestations. Final confirmation of the diagnosis of Ebol fever allows only the conditions of a first-class equipped laboratory where various tests are conducted:
- polymerase chain reaction( allows to detect the virus immediately after infection, long before the symptoms manifest);
- serological reactions;
- enzyme immunoassay;
- immunofluorescent methods;
- solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay systems for the detection of antibodies and antigens.
Treatment is carried out in specialized infectious hospitals with appropriate isolation. Specific treatment does not exist, and symptomatic methods aimed at managing the main clinical symptoms are usually ineffective.
To prevent dehydration, intravenous infusions and oral rehydration with electrolyte solutions are indicated. The fight against bleeding, poisoning the body, shock is carried out by conventional methods.
Traditionally, vaccines are used to fight viral infections. A number of vaccines against the Ebola virus have been developed, but they have not yet passed the entire cycle of necessary clinical trials.
Positive trends are observed with intravenous application of interferon. Sometimes it is recommended that the transfusion of the immune plasma taken from people that suffered the disease, but the effectiveness of such treatment is not proven. Continuous medical supervision and strict bed rest are indicated.
Prevention measures for Ebola
When suspected of infection with Ebola haemorrhagic fever, a specific immunoglobulin is injected by injection, which is made from horse serum.
Also, preventive measures include:
- the urgent hospitalization of infected people in separate boxes, which are used in cases of especially dangerous infections( plague, cholera);
- execution of mode rules;
- promptly seek medical attention if symptomatic symptoms occur;
- observance of precautionary measures during care of the patient;
- regular ventilation and cleaning of premises;
- isolation of all who contacted patients with Ebola fever( 21 days of quarantine);
- observance of personal hygiene.