Marburg hemorrhagic fever (otherwise: Marburg fever, Marburg disease) is caused by a virus of the same name. It is a very serious viral disease, the first signs of fever and fatigue are easy to ignore. Soon, however, flu-like symptoms are joined by numerous bleeding, followed by shock and multiple organ failure. How is it possible to catch Marburg hemorrhagic fever and what are the chances of survival?

Marburg hemorrhagic fever - causes

Viral hemorrhagic fever is caused by over 25 different viruses. The Marburg virus, like the Ebola virus, belongs to theFiloviridaefamily of viruses. Numerous strains of it have also been identified, with varying degrees of lethality, i.e. mortality.

Many studies and observations show that the primary infection with Marburg virus in humans occurred after unknowingly contact with the excreta or saliva of the giant redhead (fruit bat) - an animal that is a natural "reservoir" of the Marburg virus. The red fox, also known as a flying fox or a flying dog, likes to stay in caves and old mines. Entering such places was probably the cause of the first infections.

There are also rare cases of Marburg virus infection through contact with the tissues of wild monkeys, possibly also infected through contact with bats.

The first documented cases of Marburg hemorrhagic fever took place in 1967 in Marburg (hence the name of the disease), Frankfurt am Main and Belgrade. The source of the virus was green monkeys ( Cercopithecus aethiops ) imported from Uganda.

Infection with the Marburg virus occurred in people who care for or dissect monkeys, specifically the kidneys, for cell culture purposes. Then there were 25 primary and 6 secondary cases of Marburg infections from sick people - as a result of direct contact, usually with their blood. Of all those infected, 7 died.

Marburg hemorrhagic fever - transmission of the virus

Infection with Marburg virus occurs through droplets as well as direct and indirect contact. The last two forms of exposure to the virus are of the greatest importance. The most dangerous infections are those caused by contact with body fluids and faeces of infected people.

Feverhemorrhagic Marburg is an endemic disease in central Africa. It is usually diagnosed during the period of sporadic small epidemic outbreaks (250 cases) in Angola between 2004 and 2005.

Fewer than 500 cases of Marburg fever have been reported so far.

Marburg hemorrhagic fever - symptoms

After an incubation period of about 8 days on average (3 to 21 days in total), the outbreak is sudden and the symptoms are non-specific. They appear:

  • fever,
  • fatigue,
  • headache,
  • chest pain,
  • muscle and joint pains.

Then they join in and very quickly, rapidly developing gastrointestinal symptoms:

  • vomiting,
  • diarrhea,
  • stomach ache,

and, in some cases, is accompanied by a maculo-papular rash.

In severe cases of Marburg hemorrhagic fever, symptoms such as:

  • subconjunctival hemorrhages,
  • nose bleeds,
  • mouth bleeding,
  • rectal bleeding,
  • bleeding from intravenous puncture sites,
  • confusion,
  • convulsions,
  • coma.

Then, in a short time, shock and multi-organ failure occurs. Mild to moderate leukopenia and thrombocytopenia are common, and there is disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) as manifested by the presence of D-dimers.

Marburg hemorrhagic fever - diagnosis

Common diagnostic methods for hemorrhagic fever, and therefore Marburg fever, include:

  • cell culture- only in laboratories with the fourth level of biosafety,
  • serological tests -enzyme immunoassay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods. Due to the lack of commercial kits available today, these tests are usually performed in a few specialized laboratories.

Marburg hemorrhagic fever is difficult to distinguish from other febrile diseases, at least in the first stages of the disease. In such case, the correct procedure consists in excluding:

  • other forms of hemorrhagic fever - especially Ebola fever,
  • malaria,
  • major fever,
  • leptospirozy,
  • rickettsial infections,
  • plague,
  • bacterial dysentery,
  • meningococcal infections.

Marburg hemorrhagic fever - treatment and prognosis

Sick atMarburg fever must be isolated, and when caring for them it is necessary to take extraordinary precautions - face shields, as well as wearing surgical masks, double gloves, surgical clothing and gowns. This is the only way to avoid nosocomial infections.

Unfortunately, there are no antiviral drugs for this disease. Treatment depends on the symptoms present. It is life-sustaining. As a rule, there are procedures prescribed for the treatment of severe sepsis.

The prognosis for the sick is not good.Mortality in Marburg hemorrhagic fever is over 80% . Although during the Marburg fever epidemic imported from monkeys imported into Europe, the fatality rate was only 22%.

Shock, bleeding, neurological symptoms, high viremia, high levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST>150 IU / L) and pregnancy are poor prognostic factors. The convalescence period may take more than a year, but the convalescent do not experience any permanent consequences of the infection. About the authorAnna Jarosz A journalist who has been involved in popularizing he alth education for over 40 years. Winner of many competitions for journalists dealing with medicine and he alth. She received, among others The "Golden OTIS" Trust Award in the "Media and He alth" category, St. Kamil awarded on the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, twice the "Crystal Pen" in the national competition for journalists promoting he alth, and many awards and distinctions in competitions for the "Medical Journalist of the Year" organized by the Polish Association of Journalists for He alth.

Category:

Infectious diseases