Congo hemorrhagic fever: Key facts, symptoms and preventive actions

What is Congo hemorrhagic fever?
A person with Congo hemorrhagic fever has a viral infection that is transmitted to humans by ticks. The illness can cause a fever, flu-like symptoms, and a rash. The illness can progress to become life threatening. Congo hemorrhagic fever occurs in Europe, the Mediterranean, China, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and India.

What are the symptoms of Congo hemorrhagic fever?
Congo hemorrhagic fever causes a flu-like illness that starts within one week of the tick bite. The initial symptoms are mild, but may become severe very quickly. The most common initial symptoms of Congo hemorrhagic fever include abdominal pain, back pain, body aches, fever, joint pain, nausea and vomiting.

How does the doctor treat Congo hemorrhagic fever?
Treatment for Congo hemorrhagic fever may include rest, fluids, antiviral medications, and acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain and fever control.

Risk factors for congo hemorrhagic fever include:

* Elderly
* Travel to undeveloped country
* Any condition that causes a weakening of the immune system such as:
* Diabetes
* Organ transplant
* Chemotherapy
* AIDS

Congo hemorrhagic fever causes a flu-like illness that starts within one week of the tick bite. The initial symptoms are mild, but may become severe very quickly.

The most common initial symptoms of congo hemorrhagic fever include:

* Abdominal pain
* Back pain
* Body aches
* Fever
* Chills
* Severe headache
* Joint pain (multiple joints)
* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Anorexia
* Fatigue
* Malaise
* Red eyes
* Flushing
* Red throat

After 3-5 days, signs and symptoms of hemorrhage may occur, including:

* Rash:
* Skin lesions that look like bruises or broken blood vessels in the skin
* Skin lesions may be on the palate
* Blood in the stool
* Blood in urine
* Black stool
* Nosebleed
* Abdominal swelling:
* Liver enlargement

Symptoms of severe congo hemorrhagic fever include:

* Coma
* Confusion
* Lethargy:
* A condition of excessive sleepiness or drowsiness.
* Low blood pressure

Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Treatment
Treatment for Congo hemorrhagic fever usually includes rest, fluids, antiviral medications, and acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain and fever control.

Treatment for congo hemorrhagic fever may include:

* Acetaminophen for pain
* Ibuprofen for pain
* Plenty of fluids
* Rest
* Antiviral medications:
* Ribavirin (Rebetol)

Prevention of congo hemorrhagic fever includes:

* Avoid areas where outbreaks occur.
* Avoid wooded areas where ticks live.
* Wear long sleeve shirts and pants, and a hat.
* Wear insect repellent clothing.
* Use tick repellents on clothing and exposed skin.
* Tick repellents that contain DEET
* Tick repellents that contain permethrin
* Check your skin and clothing for ticks after being outdoors.
* Shower after going into the woods.
* See your doctor within 4 hours if you are unable to completely remove a tick from the skin.
* Treat pets for fleas and ticks.

source: freemd