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Disease Profile
Lassa fever (Viral hemorrhagic fever)
Prevalence
Prevalence estimates on Rare Medical Network websites are calculated based on data available from numerous sources, including US and European government statistics, the NIH, Orphanet, and published epidemiologic studies. Rare disease population data is recognized to be highly variable, and based on a wide variety of source data and methodologies, so the prevalence data on this site should be assumed to be estimated and cannot be considered to be absolutely correct.
Prevalence estimates on Rare Medical Network websites are calculated based on data available from numerous sources, including US and European government statistics, the NIH, Orphanet, and published epidemiologic studies. Rare disease population data is recognized to be highly variable, and based on a wide variety of source data and methodologies, so the prevalence data on this site should be assumed to be estimated and cannot be considered to be absolutely correct.
Unknown
Age of onset
All ages
ICD-10
-
Inheritance
Autosomal dominant A pathogenic variant in only one gene copy in each cell is sufficient to cause an autosomal dominant disease.
Autosomal recessive Pathogenic variants in both copies of each gene of the chromosome are needed to cause an autosomal recessive disease and observe the mutant phenotype.
X-linked
dominant X-linked dominant inheritance, sometimes referred to as X-linked dominance, is a mode of genetic inheritance by which a dominant gene is carried on the X chromosome.
dominant X-linked dominant inheritance, sometimes referred to as X-linked dominance, is a mode of genetic inheritance by which a dominant gene is carried on the X chromosome.
X-linked
recessive Pathogenic variants in both copies of a gene on the X chromosome cause an X-linked recessive disorder.
recessive Pathogenic variants in both copies of a gene on the X chromosome cause an X-linked recessive disorder.
Mitochondrial or multigenic Mitochondrial genetic disorders can be caused by changes (mutations) in either the mitochondrial DNA or nuclear DNA that lead to dysfunction of the mitochondria and inadequate production of energy.
Multigenic or multifactor Inheritance involving many factors, of which at least one is genetic but none is of overwhelming importance, as in the causation of a disease by multiple genetic and environmental factors.
Not applicable
Summary
The following summary is from Orphanet, a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.
Orpha Number: 341
Definition
Viral hemorrhagic fever is a group of recently discovered contagious viral infections characterized by severe, multiple, and often fatal hemorrhages. African fevers include Lassa fever discovered in 1969, Marburg's disease that first occurred in 1967, and Ebola fever that appeared in 1976. Other viruses may also cause hemorrhagic fevers (for example, arbovirus fever).
Regarding Lassa fever, after a 7-day incubation period, fever and ulcerating hemorrhagic pharyngitis occur, followed by pleuropneumonia. The disease then progresses to either spontaneous cure or to profuse digestive or pulmonary bleeding that leads to death in 35 to 70% of cases. Transmission of Ebola between humans occurs mainly via direct contact with the disease or with infected biological products, rather than by the air-borne route. Clinical manifestations appear after a 4-16 day incubation period, initially with fever, cephalalgia, myalgia and conjunctival suffusion. Digestive symptoms then appear, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and are associated with leucothrombocytopenia . The next stage is marked by hemorrhage in the nose, intestines or genitalia. Biological findings include an isolated elevation of transaminases and stigmatas of disseminated intravascular coagulation. The disease is usually fatal within a few days.
The reservoir for Lassa fever is a rodent which transmits the virus to humans directly, with no need of a vector . Ebola and Marburg viruses belong to the filoviridae viral family, but their reservoirs remain unknown. The source of the first documented Marburg epidemic was a group of African green monkeys imported from Uganda. Ebola virus causes deadly localized epidemics centered around central Africa.
Management and treatment
Treatment is symptomatic. Secondary prevention within hospital services consists of the total isolation of affected patients. The disease is notifiable.
Visit the Orphanet disease page for more resources.
Symptoms
This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.
| Medical Terms | Other Names |
Learn More:
HPO ID
|
|---|---|---|
| 80%-99% of people have these symptoms | ||
| Fatigue |
Tired
Tiredness
[ more ] |
0012378 |
| Fever | 0001945 | |
| 30%-79% of people have these symptoms | ||
| Abdominal pain |
Pain in stomach
Stomach pain
[ more ] |
0002027 |
| Arthralgia |
Joint pain
|
0002829 |
| Chest pain | 0100749 | |
| Decreased liver function |
Liver dysfunction
|
0001410 |
| Diarrhea |
Watery stool
|
0002014 |
| Epistaxis |
Bloody nose
Frequent nosebleeds
Nose bleed
Nose bleeding
Nosebleed
[ more ] |
0000421 |
| Gastrointestinal hemorrhage |
Gastrointestinal bleeding
|
0002239 |
| Gingival bleeding |
Bleeding gums
|
0000225 |
| Leukopenia |
Decreased blood leukocyte number
Low white blood cell count
[ more ] |
0001882 |
| Migraine |
Intermittent migraine headaches
Migraine headache
Migraine headaches
[ more ] |
0002076 |
| Myalgia |
Muscle ache
Muscle pain
[ more ] |
0003326 |
| Nausea and vomiting | 0002017 | |
| Skin rash | 0000988 | |
| Spontaneous abortion | 0005268 | |
| Subcutaneous hemorrhage |
Bleeding below the skin
|
0001933 |
| Thrombocytopenia |
Low platelet count
|
0001873 |
| 5%-29% of people have these symptoms | ||
| Encephalitis |
Brain inflammation
|
0002383 |
| Hearing impairment |
Deafness
Hearing defect
[ more ] |
0000365 |
| Recurrent bronchiolitis | 0100501 | |
| Reduced consciousness/confusion |
Disturbances of consciousness
Lowered consciousness
[ more ] |
0004372 |
| Retrobulbar optic neuritis | 0100654 | |
| Seizure | 0001250 | |
Learn more
These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.
In-Depth Information
- Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
- The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
- Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.