Almost every day in news programs, alarming reports are transmitted that in any country new cases of diseases of people of Ebola fever are recorded. In the spring of 2014, the world learned about the outbreak of this infection, which can now be called the largest in the history of the existence of a dangerous infection, which has swept the life of thousands of people.
What is Ebola hemorrhagic fever?
Ebola hemorrhagic fever(Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever, lat. Ebola Febris Haemorrhagica) - acute viral high -contagious disease, characterized by severe course, high mortality and development of hemorrhagic syndrome.
For the first timeEbola virusHe was identified in the equatorial province of Sudan and the surrounding regions of Zair (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1976. The virus was allocated in the area of the Ebola River. This gave him a name.
The Ebola virus is divided into five subtypes: Sudansky, Zairsky, cat-d’Ivuar, Restonian and Bundibugios. Only 4 subtypes amaze people. The restonal subtype is characterized by asymptomatic flow. It is believed that the natural tanks of the virus are in equatorial African forests.
Transmission mechanismvarious. The polytropic of the virus, the variety of ways to discharge from the body determine the possibility of infection in contact with the blood of patients, sex and aerosol routes, when using common household items and joint nutrition. It was established that the infection with Ebola fever is mainly realized by direct contact with infected material. The disease is very contagious and is transmitted when the virus enters the skin and mucous membranes. Blood is most dangerous. The greatest risk of infection is undergoing medical personnel when caring for patients.
Natural susceptibilityPeople are high. Postinfection immunity is persistent. Repeated cases of diseases are rare; Their frequency does not exceed 5%.
Symptoms of hemorrhagic Ebola fever
The incubation periodVarying from 2 to 21 days. The onset of the disease is acute, with an increase in body temperature to 38-39 ° C, headache, myalgia and arthralgia, malaise, nausea. During the first days, most patients have sores of sore throat; Inflammation of the tonsils causes a sensation of a painful "ball in the throat." In the midst of diseases, indomitable vomiting, abdominal pain and hemorrhagic diarrhea join. Hemorrhagic syndrome with manifestations of skin hemorrhages, organ bleeding, and bloody vomiting develops rapidly. Often observe signs of encephalopathy in the form of excitement and aggressiveness of patients; In cases of recovery, they remain for a long time during the period of recruits.
A fatal outcome occurs, as a rule, at the beginning of the 2nd week of illness. Its main causes are bleeding, intoxication, hypovolemic and infectious -toxic shocks.
In cases of recovery, the acute phase of the disease lasts 2-3 weeks. The period of reconovalism is delayed up to 2-3 months, accompanied by asthenization, anorexia, a decrease in body weight, hair loss, and sometimes the development of mental disorders.
Diagnosis of hemorrhagic Ebola fever
Recognition is based on epidemiological prerequisites (staying in endemic areas, contacts with patients, etc.) and characteristic clinical symptoms. Specialized laboratory tests record certain antigens and/or virus genes. Testing of blood samples is associated with a large risk of infection and should be carried out at the maximum level of biological protection.
Treatment of Ebola hemorrhagic fever
In certain cases, intensive care is required: in the case of dehydration, intravenous infusions and oral rendration with solutions containing electrolytes. So far, there is no acceptable treatment or vaccine against Ebola fever.
Prevention of hemorrhagic Ebola fever
Patients with hemorrhagic fever of Lass, Marburg and Ebola are subject to immediate hospitalization in boxing departments in compliance with a strict regime recommended in cases of especially dangerous infections, such as plague and smallpox. All household items should be strictly individual, marked. They are stored and disinfected in boxing. For treatment, use instruments of one -time use; After consumption, they are autoclave or burned. The discharge of patients is also treated accordingly.
Prevention for medical workers.
T.K. The initial symptoms are non -specific, medical workers should apply standard precautions:
- compliance with personal hygiene rules
- the use of personal protective equipment (depending on the risk of spraying or other contacts of contact with infected materials);
- compliance with the rules of infectious control in medical institutions;
- respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette;
- safety in injection;
- Safety during the burial of the dead.
When caring for patients with the alleged or confirmed Ebola, in addition to standard precautions, it is necessary
take infectious control measures to prevent the effects of blood and fluids on the patient's body and/or
direct unprotected contact with a possibly polluted environment.
With close contact (closer than 1 m) with the patient, wear a face protection (front shield or a medical mask and glasses), a robe with long sleeves and gloves.
Laboratory workers are also at risk. Samples taken to diagnose people and animals with suspicion of Ebola fever should be addressed by personnel who have undergone special training in properly equipped laboratories.
