Brazilian hemorrhagic fever is a viral disease that we still don't know much about - only a few cases have been described. What are the causes of this hemorrhagic fever? What are the symptoms of this zoonosis? And do we know a treatment for Brazilian hemorrhagic fever?
Brazilian hemorrhagic feveris caused by the RNA of the Sabiá virus (SABV), which is included in the New World arenaviruses (complexTacaribe ). Its carriers are rodents, as is the case with several other hemorrhagic fevers. As two of the cases of infection described in the medical literature have occurred in the laboratory, the virus is considered to be transmitted by inhalation.
Brazilian hemorrhagic fever: symptoms
As with other hemorrhagic fever the disease begins with flu-like symptoms such as:
- weakness
- high fever
- chills
- sore throat
- headache
- muscle aches
With time, these come to the above:
- conjunctivitis
- stomach pains
- diarrhea
- nausea
- vomiting
which causes dehydration.
In one of the described cases (the first patient whose medical history was described in 1994), a death occurred due to the appearance of hemorrhagic and necrotic foci, among others. in the liver, digestive tract and reproductive organs. There was also pulmonary edema.
Studies have shown elevated levels of liver enzymes and leukopenia.
Brazilian hemorrhagic fever: treatment
The negligible number of reported cases means that there is no causal treatment. Symptomatic treatment is primarily to prevent dehydration.