What is Viral Hemorrhagic Fever?

Viral hemorrhagic fever is shortly known as VHF. Several different viruses can cause this VHF and affects multiple organs in the body. This disease affects body’s vascular system and may associate with hemorrhage (bleeding).

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With various diseases you can find, Viral Hemorrhagic Fever. They are:

Lassa fever
Ebola fever
Marburg fever
Dengue
Yellow fever
Kyasanur fever
Rift Valley fever
Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever
Bolivian hemorrhagic fever
Argentinian hemorrhagic fever
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (Hantaan fever)
Venezuelans hemorrhagic fever
Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever

Among all these, some of viral fever are mild and some are severe and life-threatening. Ebola fever and Marburg fever are an example of severe and life-threatening viral hemorrhagic fever.

Types of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever

Viral hemorrhagic fever is mainly of two types:

Biosafety Level -4 viral hemorrhagic fever
Non-Biosafety Level -4 viral hemorrhagic fever

Biosafety Level -4 viral hemorrhagic fever includes Lassa fever, Argentinian hemorrhagic fever, Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, Venezuelans hemorrhagic fever, Ebola fever, Marburg fever, Rift Valley fever, Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever and Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (Hantaan fever).

Whereas, Non-Biosafety Level -4 viral hemorrhagic fever includes Dengue and Yellow fever.

Causes of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever

VHF is caused by various viruses. They are mainly:

Arenaviruses
Filoviruses
Bunyaviruses
Flaviviruses

These all are RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) viruses. These all RNA viruses are covered by lipid. Here, Humans are not the host for viruses.

Humans are infected by the causative host that is monkeys. Yes, monkeys are the primary host for viral hemorrhagic fever causing viruses. Yes, there are other hosts, but monkeys are the principle.

Arenaviruses are responsible for Lassa fever, Argentinian hemorrhagic fever, Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, Venezuelans hemorrhagic fever.

Filoviruses are responsible for Ebola fever and Marburg fever.

Bunyaviruses are responsible for Rift Valley fever, Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever, Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (Hantaan fever).

Flaviviruses are responsible for Dengue and Yellow fever.

Causative hosts for VHF

Basically, what is the host? The host is also known as Reservoir. You know the meaning of Host or Reservoir, that is to hold or to store. So here, the following hosts reserve the viruses and transmit the viruses to other. So, hosts or reservoir means they have the causative agents and may transmit the infections to other.

Hosts for:

Lassa fever are Multimammate rats (Mastomys natalensis).
Ebola fever or Ebola virus and Marburg fever are still unknown. And that is the reason, Ebola fever or Ebola virus and Marburg fever are severe and life-threatening.
Dengue are Humans.
Yellow fever and Kyasanur fever are monkeys.
Rift Valley fever are farm animals.
Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever are vertebrate, farmed and wild animals.
Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, Argentinian hemorrhagic fever, Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (Hantaan fever) and Venezuelans hemorrhagic fever are rodent animals.
Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever are rodent animals, sheep, goat, and mosquitoes.

Signs and Symptoms of VHF

Initial signs and symptoms of viral hemorrhagic fever are:

Fever
Fatigue
Malaise
Muscle ache
Headache
Sore throat
Dizziness

Severe signs and symptoms of viral hemorrhagic fever are:

Bleeding
Hypovolemic shock
Nervous system failure
Seizures
Coma
Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Renal failure
Inflammation of one or both testicles
Blindness
Pulmonary edema

In severe VHF, you can see Hemorrhage (bleeding) from internal organs, skin, mouth, ears, eyes, etc. Whereas, you can find pain in Lassa fever.

Transmission of Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses

Viruses responsible for hemorrhagic fever are mainly transmitted to the humans. When the hosts come in contact with Humans, they transmit the viruses causing the hemorrhagic fever to Humans.

In Lassa fever, Ebola fever or Ebola virus, Marburg fever, Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever the infection is transmitted from one infected person to another person through direct contact, contact with infected objects or body fluids exchange.

These type of viral infection is mainly spread through the use of contaminated blood, syringes and needles.

Diagnosis of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever

A person with the history of travel more than 21 days in exposure area and has fever must undergo for diagnosis of VHF.

Laboratory tests are done in high-grade laboratories with biosafety. Blood reports show low total white blood cell counts mainly lymphocytes, low platelet counts.

Other reports shows, and high blood serum liver enzymes. High Prothrombin Time (PT) and Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT). There is increase bleeding time. (Source: Wikipedia)

Some test for VHF are:

Blood test
Throat swab test
Urine test
Body fluids test
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test
Virus isolation test
Serology test

Treatment of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever

Unfortunately, there is no specific cure or treatment is available for viral hemorrhagic fever.

But, antiviral drug – Ribavirin is used to treat Lassa fever and Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (Hantaan fever) with some good results.

Ribavirin is given intravenously (I.V.) with a dose of 100 mg/kg followed by 25 mg/kg for 3 days and 12.5 mg/kg daily for 4 days. (Source: Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine, 21st edition).

Risk factors for VHF

Traveling, regional activities, contact with the animals in the exposure area within 21 days, put you at the higher risk of VHF.

You must avoid area exposed to Ebola virus infection as it can be life-threatening. Have knowledge of routinely exposing areas with VHF viruses.

Some regions are Congo, Uganda, Sudan, Kyasanur forest (Karnataka), Turkey, Russia, Balkans, etc.

Prevention of VHF

Prevention of VHF is must important factor for your life because only two of the all VHF diseases are having vaccines whereas, vaccines for rest are not available.

Vaccines are available for Yellow fever and Argentinian hemorrhagic fever.