Synonym(s)
Haemorrhagic fever; Hemorrhagic Fever
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
A group of highly contagious, febrile infectious diseases, usually caused by viruses and accompanied by bleeding in the skin and mucous membranes, which are often fatal.
ClassificationThis section has been translated automatically.
Hemorrhagic fevers are caused by viruses, some of which are related to each other. These include:
- Flaviviridae family:
- Yellow fever
- Dengue fever
- Omsk fe ver (OHF)
- Kyasanur-Forest disease
- Family of Bunyaviridae:
- Togaviridae family
- Chikungunya fever
- Arenaviridae family:
- Lassa fever
- Argentine hemorrhagic fever (Junin)
- Bolivian he morrhagic fever (Machupo)
- Venezuelan he morrhagic fever (Guanarito)
- Brazilian hemorrhagic fever (Sabia).
- Filoviridae family:
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Occurrence/EpidemiologyThis section has been translated automatically.
The pathogens are not native to Central Europe and North America. They usually originate from Africa, South America or South East Asia and are introduced by migrants or travellers who have become infected abroad. The pathogens originally come from animals (pets, rodents, monkeys) and are usually transmitted to humans by mosquitoes and ticks. Lassa fever is also transmitted by contact with infected animal excrement.
ManifestationThis section has been translated automatically.
The time between infection and outbreak of the disease is usually about one week, but the incubation period can be between 2 and 21 days in the case of Ebola. During the incubation period they are not transmitted to other people, but as soon as the disease breaks out it can - depending on the type of disease - be transmitted to other people by droplet infection or blood contact rarely or very often.
Clinical featuresThis section has been translated automatically.
Accommodation/General: High fever (> 38.5 °C), liver and kidney dysfunction, also edema. These oedemas can occur both as internal bleeding and as bleeding in the tissue (petechiae or flat bleeding), caused by so-called capillary leakage. In many cases, stool and urine are also bloody. Shock, circulatory collapse, cramps and paralysis are not uncommon.
Integument: conjunctival hyperemia, periorbital oedema, erythema of skin and mucous membranes on the face, neck, chest, palate, pharynx, tendency to gum and petechial bleeding.
DiagnosisThis section has been translated automatically.
It is not possible to clearly identify these diseases by their symptoms. Virological examinations are absolutely necessary. Procedure: In case of suspicion blood tests by specialized institutes, e.g. the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin or the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg.
TherapyThis section has been translated automatically.
There are hardly any successful drug treatments for most haemorrhagic fevers, only a vaccination against yellow fever exists. Prevention through insect repellent is most helpful.
ProphylaxisThis section has been translated automatically.
Most hemorrhagic fevers are dangerous to life-threatening. Since they are also infectious and there is a risk of infection, the German Infection Protection Act (IfSG) stipulates a general obligation to report diagnosed diseases or deaths caused by viral haemorrhagic fever. A quarantine may also be necessary.
Note(s)This section has been translated automatically.
Useful Weblinks: profiles of virus infections of the Robert Koch Institute; Homepage of the Bernhard Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine
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Incoming links (4)
Dengue fever; Hemorrhagic fever; Infectious diseases of the skin; Marburg virus disease;Outgoing links (13)
Argentine hemorrhagic fever; Bolivian hemorrhagic fever; Brazilian haemorrhagic fever; Bunyaviridae; Chikungunya fever; Dengue fever; Ebola fever; Haemorrhagic omsk fever; Kyasanur forest disease; Lassa fever; ... Show allDisclaimer
Please ask your physician for a reliable diagnosis. This website is only meant as a reference.
Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer