Ebola fever A98.4

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

Synonym(s)

African haemorrhagic fever; EBO-HF; Maridi-hemorrhagic fever

Definition
This section has been translated automatically.

Acute hemorrhagic febrile illness caused by the Ebola virus with high lethality, which is transmitted from person to person.

Pathogen
This section has been translated automatically.

Ebola virus, family of filo viruses. There are 4 known strains: Zaire, Sudan, Reston (does not cause hemorrhagic fever), Ivory Coast.

You might also be interested in

Dermatology

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are slender, thin- and long-legged bipeds with many-limbed, serrated antennae whose mouthparts a...

Advertisment

Occurrence/Epidemiology
This section has been translated automatically.

Named after the river Ebola.
First cases occurred in Southern Sudan in 1972 and 1976 respectively. In Sudan, the cities of Maridi (first named Maridi-hemorrhagic fever) and Nzara were affected, and in the Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire) the city of Yambuka.
Epidemic outbreaks in Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, South Africa, Gabon, Ivory Coast.
Human-to-human transmission; the reservoir is unknown (probably flying fox species).

Clinical features
This section has been translated automatically.

Incubation period 4-10 days (2-21 days). Abrupt fever and uncharacteristic accompanying symptoms. Conjunctivitis (often hemorrhagic), maculo-papular exanthema, petechiae, followed by pharyngitis, severe nausea, vomiting, severe bleeding tendency, delirium.

Laboratory
This section has been translated automatically.

Initial lymphocytosis, followed by neutrophilia; thrombocytopenia with abnormal aggregation tendency; only slight increase in bilirubin. Elevated transaminases, high AST/ALT ratio.

Diagnosis
This section has been translated automatically.

Virus detection in RT-PCR
Antibody detection (immunofluorescence, Western blot)
Electron microscopic virus detection
Detection of antigen in liver imprints
Prepare the test in guinea pigs or Vero cells.

Differential diagnosis
This section has been translated automatically.

Marburg fever; malaria; typhoid fever; bacterial meningo-pepticemia; leptospirosis; anthrax; relapsing fever.

Therapy
This section has been translated automatically.

Symptomatic therapy.
In the early stages, reconvalescent serum (no longer recommended due to the possible risk of hepatitis B, C and HIV infection).

Progression/forecast
This section has been translated automatically.

Death after 6-9 days (1-21 days).
Severe course during pregnancy.
Reconvalescence possible, but delayed, with weight loss, amnesia.

Prophylaxis
This section has been translated automatically.

Immediate isolation of sick persons and in case of suspected illness.
Avoid contact with sick people.
Observance of strict infection measures.
Vaccination (active immunization): Vaccination in Javanese monkeys (long-tailed macaques; Macaca fascicularis) with an attenuated, live, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), which produces a so-called glycoprotein of the Zaire Ebola virus strain "Kikwit" on its surface, is successful. Vaccination in humans is still being tested.

Note(s)
This section has been translated automatically.

Remember! Suspected illness, illness and death must be reported by the doctor to the public health department by name according to §6 IfSG. According to § 7 IfSG there is an obligation to report in case of direct or indirect evidence of the virus.