Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever. Lassa fever is not as contagious from person to person as other hemorrhagic fevers, such as that caused by the Ebola virus.
Signs and symptoms of Lassa fever begin from 6 days to 3 weeks after exposure. Symptoms associated with the condition can include
- fever,
- malaise,
- generalized weakness,
- sore throat (very similar to strep throat and without runny nose),
- severe headache,
- chest pain (especially behind the breastbone),
- back pain, and
- ringing in the ears.
Other symptoms and signs can include
Cause of Lassa fever
The Lassa fever virus causes Lassa fever. It occurs primarily in West Africa and is typically spreads by the urine or feces of Mastomys rats to humans. Direct contact with blood, body fluids, urine, or stool of an infected patient can infect others.
Other lassa fever symptoms and signs
- Abdominal Pain
- Back Pain
- Chest Pain (Especially Behind the Breastbone)
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Generalized Weakness
- Malaise
- Nausea
- Ringing in the Ears
- Severe Headache
- Sore Throat (Very Similar to Strep Throat and Without Runny Nose)
- Vomiting
Main Article on Lassa Fever Symptoms and Signs
References
Jameson, J. Larry, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 20th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2018.