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Lassa fever diagnostics
- Date2018-08-16 19:57
- Update2018-08-16 19:57
- DivisionDivision of Strategic Planning for Emerging Infectious Diseases
- Tel043-719-7271
Lassa fever diagnostics
Kim Jin-Won, Kim Yu-ri, Kang Byung Hak, Rhie Gi-eun
Division of High-risk Pathogens, Center for Laboratory Control of Infectious Diseases, KCDC
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus. Lassa fever is endemic in the West African countries including Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, and Côte d’Ivoire. There have also been reports of imported cases through international travel and repatriation in Europe and North America. Lassa fever usually presents within 6 to 21 days after infection. The initial symptoms are nonspecific illness with fever, malaise, headache, anorexia, and weakness. The differential diagnosis of Lassa fever can hardly be distinguished based on clinical symptoms from other endemic febrile illnesses. After the onset of illness, treatment with antiviral drugs during the early stages and supportive care are available. Laboratory diagnosis plays an important role in the differential diagnosis of Lassa fever because it is difficult to diagnose based on clinical symptoms.
Keyword: Lassa virus, Lassa fever, Laboratory diagnosis, Clinical symptoms
Kim Jin-Won, Kim Yu-ri, Kang Byung Hak, Rhie Gi-eun
Division of High-risk Pathogens, Center for Laboratory Control of Infectious Diseases, KCDC
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus. Lassa fever is endemic in the West African countries including Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, and Côte d’Ivoire. There have also been reports of imported cases through international travel and repatriation in Europe and North America. Lassa fever usually presents within 6 to 21 days after infection. The initial symptoms are nonspecific illness with fever, malaise, headache, anorexia, and weakness. The differential diagnosis of Lassa fever can hardly be distinguished based on clinical symptoms from other endemic febrile illnesses. After the onset of illness, treatment with antiviral drugs during the early stages and supportive care are available. Laboratory diagnosis plays an important role in the differential diagnosis of Lassa fever because it is difficult to diagnose based on clinical symptoms.
Keyword: Lassa virus, Lassa fever, Laboratory diagnosis, Clinical symptoms
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