EBOLA VIRUS INFECTION: SYMPTOMS, DIAGNOSIS AND PREVENTION:
Ebola virus disease, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a lethal disease caused by a virus called Ebola. Ebola causes disease in humans and non human animals especially monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas. These animals are called primates.
There are five different types of Ebola virus, a genus of family filoviridae. These five types are:
• Ebola virus
• Sudan virus
• Tai forest virus
• Bundibugyo virus
• Reston virus (does not cause disease in humans)
The Ebola virus was first identified in 1970s in African country Congo. Since then, many outbreaks have occurred in Africa.
HOW DO YOU GET EBOLA VIRUS
Ebola spreads via contact with skin and body fluids of infected animals like chimpanzees or monkeys. The disease then spreads from one person to another in the same way. It can spread to the caretakers of sick person or to those who bury a person who has died of this disease. That is why extreme care should be taken during burial of affected diseased persons.
SYMPTOMS OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE:
Symptoms show off in 2 to 21 days of getting infection and initially include general symptoms of viral disease like flu or sneezing. Then following symptoms occur:
• High grade fever
• Headache
• Generalized weakness
• Sore throat
• Joint pains
• Muscles pain
• Stomach pain and loss of appetite
As the disease worsens, the person bleeds internally as well as externally from nose, ears or eyes. Some persons cough or vomit out blood and the others may have bloody diarrhea. Skin rash can also occur.
DIAGNOSIS OF EBOLA VIRUS
Diagnosing Ebola in its early stage is often difficult because the symptoms are usually non specific and mimic other diseases like typhoid and measles. However if there is strong suspicion of Ebola infection, then following tests could be done.
• IgM ELIZA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay)
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
• Viral isolation
• Immunohistochemistry
TREATMENT OF EBOLA VIRUS:
Despite all preventive measures, the mortality rate of Ebola virus infection is 50-90%. This means one out of two patients will ultimately die. There is no specific treatment available for this life threatening disease as yet. However the patient is treated conservatively on following lines.
• Maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance
• Oxygen therapy
• Blood transfusion
• Treating other infections
PREVENTION OF EBOLA VIRUS:
There is no vaccine available for Ebola virus. The only way to prevent Ebola is by not traveling to the areas where the virus is found. If you are a doctor or a caretaker of a person infected with Ebola, then you can use gloves, goggles and masks to prevent the infection. Nowadays special equipment is made which consist of disposable kits to ensures complete prevention from Ebola. A special method of loading and unloading the kits is devised.
- See more at: http://www.sabjano.com/ebola-virus-symptoms-prevention/#sthash.Qe2sISh4.dpuf
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