Lassa Fever: Spread, Symptoms, Who is at Risk, and Treatment

avatar
(Edited)

Lassa Fever is a very serious disease that people must be aware of in order to take caution. Lassa Fever is caused by a virus through contact with infected rodents and can lead to fever, chest pain, and even death.

The good news about Lassa Fever is that it can be treated with the use of ribavirin if it’s caught early enough. So if you think you might have been exposed to the virus, it’s important to see a doctor immediately before it could get out of hand.

image.png
Image source

What is Lassa Fever

Lassa fever is a dangerous viral illness that is spread through contact with rodents or their urine and droppings and must not be left untreated.

The virus that causes Lassa fever is generally known as the Lassa virus which came from an infected rodent. It is a member of the arenavirus family, which also includes the viruses that cause Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fevers. Lassa fever is not as deadly as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, but it can lead to death if left untreated.

untitled.gif

How is Lassa Fever Spread

Lassa fever is commonly spread through contact with infected rodents, which seem to include rats and their droppings. The virus can also be contracted with an infected person’s blood, saliva, mucus, urine, or feces.

There’s every tendency that you can also get infected by Lassa fever by touching objects or surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. For instance, if you touch your face after touching a doorknob that an infected person has touched, you may likely get infected.

Who is most at risk for Lassa Fever?

People should not regard Lassa fever to be a common disease, but a serious one that can even lead to death. I believe that the main people who are at risk of contracting the virus easily are health workers and those who live close to the disease endemic.

As I mentioned above Lassa fever virus is carried by rats, and it can be spread to people through contact with rat droppings, urine, or saliva. It can also be spread through contact with objects or surfaces that the virus has been contaminated with.

Some of the common symptoms of Lassa fever may include fever, headache, body aches, and vomiting. In most complicated cases, the disease can cause bleeding from the nose, mouth, and eyes. If you experience any of the mentioned symptoms, I will advise you should seek medical attention immediately.

image.png
Image source

What are the Symptoms of Lassa Fever?

Early symptoms of Lassa Fever include:

Fever.

Headache.

Malaise.

Sore throat.

Muscle pain.

Chest pain.

Nausea.

Vomiting.

Diarrhea.

Cough.

Sometimes, the symptoms may appear suddenly, and most patients will develop more severe symptoms within one week. It will include:

Hearing loss.

Swollen face and neck.

Bruising.

Bleeding from the gums or nose.

Internal bleeding.

Seizures.

Lassa Fever is also likely to cause miscarriage in pregnant women.

untitled.gif

How is Lassa Fever Treated?

No need to panic about the disease as it can be treated, and the earlier you start treatment, the better. Treatment involves taking ribavirin, which is an antiviral medication.

Ribavirin can easily be taken intravenously or orally, and it’s most effective when started within the first six days of symptom occurrence.

If you’re pregnant and have Lassa fever, you’ll be treated with ribavirin as well. Treatment with ribavirin can reduce the risk of death in pregnant women by at least about 70%.

In some cases, people who have the virus need to be hospitalized to enable them to get monitored and receive intensive supportive care. This is most applicable to pregnant women and those whose cases seem to be severe.

Conclusion

Lassa fever is a very serious illness that doesn’t need to be left untreated. Early dictation and treatment are advisable. If you’re suspecting to have contracted Lassa fever, it’s important to see a doctor immediately.

Sources:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lassa-fever#:~:text=The%20antiviral%20drug%20ribavirin%20seems,that%20protects%20against%20Lassa%20fever.

https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/lassa/exposure/index.html#:~:text=Individuals%20at%20greatest%20risk%20of,countries%20where%20Mastomys%20rodents%20exist.



0
0
0.000
10 comments
avatar

So in which parts of the word does Lasa fever occur? Subtropics and tropics?

0
0
0.000
avatar

The Tropics. Lassa Fever is more dangerous in West Africa like Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. Research indicates that within the 6 – 21 days incubation period, an infected person with the Lassa Fever Virus can travel to a developed country, which may cause an epidemic.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thanks for your contribution to the STEMsocial community. Feel free to join us on discord to get to know the rest of us!

Please consider delegating to the @stemsocial account (85% of the curation rewards are returned).

You may also include @stemsocial as a beneficiary of the rewards of this post to get a stronger support. 
 

0
0
0.000
avatar

The good news about Lassa Fever is that it can be treated with antibiotics

Can you expound on this? Or is this a typo?

0
0
0.000
avatar

😪😪😪 Thanks friend for the observation. The use of ribavirin is mainly recommended for Lassa Fever while Antibiotics are for Bacteria infections and I have written about it in my previous post.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Ribavirin is it toxic?
!1UP


0
0
0.000
avatar

That's the reason why science is still working to get a better one.

0
0
0.000