Lassa fever, a hemorrhagic fever, caused by a deadly virus called Lassa Virus. To many people this will sound like a known disease while to some the disease will sound like it was introduced newly into the long cue of diseases tormenting human health.

Lassa Fever is a zoonotic, which means that it is transmitted from animals to man, it is mainly found in rodents especially our baddest ass, house disturber, Mastomys natalensis.

Or let me call it by its name, the rat.

This rats are the main vectors for this dreadful disease, the virus for this disease are shed through their excreta, and urine. It has the ability to be aerosolized making the virus airborne in a way we the humans can inhale it even without knowing. Lassa fever is characterized by impaired or delayed cellular immunity leading to fulminant viremia.

It is so prevalent in west africa where health study states that it accounts for 5,000 deaths annually.

Symptoms

If it affects the Gastrointestinal tract the patient will experience the symptoms:
Nausea
Vomiting (bloody)
Diarrhea (bloody)
Stomach ache
Constipation
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
Hepatitis
Cardiovascular system
Pericarditis
Hypertension
Hypotension
Tachycardia (abnormally high heart rate)
Respiratory tract
Cough
Chest pain
Dyspnoea
Pharyngitis
Pleuritis
Nervous system
Encephalitis
Meningitis
Unilateral or bilateral hearing deficit
Seizure

20% of laser fever patients die. Its mortality rate is high in under-developing countries. It is even more higher when it occurs in pregnant women. When the virus hits a pregnant woman, it is advisable to induce delivery if the fetus has developed to the extent that it an survive outside the mothers womb or carry out abortion if its not, this is done so as to increase the mothers chances of survival. The virus has high affinity for placenta and other vascular tissues.

Even as deadly as the virus maybe, there has being numerous testimonies of survival. There is a research going on in the U.S as scientist battles to configure out a more effective antiviral drug that will bring more success more than Ribavirin.

Prevention:

The prevention of laser fever rests on trying to keeping rodents away from home. Maintaining personal hygiene. Medical personnels are advised to were gloves, mask, lab coats, and goggles when tending to infected patients.

Treatment:

Just like most stubborn diseases, they quickly develop resistance to medications. It has being tested that early administration of Ribavin can immensely increase the probability of survival of the victim. Ribavin is more effective when in is administered intravenously than when taken from the mouth. Ribavirin is a prodrug which battles the virus by interfering with its viral replications by inhibiting RNA-dependent Nucleic acid synthesis.

To our utmost surprise, the drug is relatively cheap only that it will be expensive in west african countries.

Fluid replacements, Blood transfussion is always used to replenish the patients. Intravenous interferon therapy also helps.

SOURCE:
http://www.naijanovaz.com/laser-fever-cause-symptoms-treatment.html

Gud one bro! KIU(keep it up)

Thanks for sharing

Nice update bro!! Keeping my virology knowledge fresh