What is hemorrhagic fever?

And what are its causes?

What are the main types?

Is hemorrhagic fever contagious?

Is there a cure?

How can viral hemorrhagic fevers be prevented?

What are the most important tips to protect from exposure?

What is hemorrhagic fever?

Viral hemorrhagic fevers are diseases caused by several types of viruses, and some of these viruses cause mild illness, while many other viruses lead to life-threatening diseases without known treatment.

One of the most famous hemorrhagic viruses is Ebola, according to The Johns Hopkins University.

Causes of hemorrhagic fever

These diseases are caused by viruses of 4 groups:

  • Arenaviruses

  • Filoviruses

  • Bunyaviruses

  • Flaviviruses

These viruses infect insects or rodents.

A person can become infected from exposure to the body, bodily fluids, or droppings of an infected rodent, or through an insect bite, usually from a mosquito or tick.

Some viruses are also spread from person to person.

It can also spread if you crush an infected tick.

Is hemorrhagic fever contagious?

Viral hemorrhagic fevers are contagious diseases, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The American Foundation adds that viral hemorrhagic fevers are spread by contact with infected animals or insects.

The viruses that cause viral hemorrhagic fevers live in a variety of animal and insect hosts, with the most common hosts including mosquitoes, ticks, rodents, or bats.

Some types of viral hemorrhagic fevers can also be passed from person to person.

hemorrhagic fever in english

The English name for hemorrhagic fever is Viral hemorrhagic fevers.

Symptoms of hemorrhagic fever

Symptoms vary depending on the specific disease.

Each person may have slightly different symptoms.

Various organs in the body can be affected.

Symptoms often include:

  • Fever

  • fatigue

  • Dizziness

  • muscle pain

  • loss of strength

  • exhaustion

People with severe cases often show signs of bleeding.

This may be under the skin, in internal organs, or from body openings such as the mouth, eyes, or ears.

But blood loss is rarely the cause of death.

These people may also have:

  • shock

  • spells

  • nervous system failure

  • coma

  • delirium

  • Renal failure

Hemorrhagic fever treatment

In general, there is no known cure for these diseases.

Those affected may receive supportive treatment.

This may include getting fluids or assistance with breathing and pain relievers.

Antiviral medication may help some people with Lassa fever.

Can viral hemorrhagic fevers be prevented?

There are no vaccines available to prevent these diseases, with the exception of yellow fever and Argentine hemorrhagic fever.

Therefore, the focus is on staying away from rodents or insects that carry the virus.

Some types of hemorrhagic fever

  • Dengue

  • Ebola

  • Lhasa

  • Marburg

  • Yellow fever

Protection from hemorrhagic fever

The best approach to protecting against viral fever is prevention, by:

Protection from rodents:

  • Control of the number of rodents

  • Prevent her from entering or living in homes or workplaces

  • Learn how to safely clean rodent droppings

For viruses spread by ticks or mosquitoes, prevention focuses on:

  • Mosquito and tick control in your environment

  • Use insect repellent, appropriate clothing, bed nets, window screens and other insect barriers to avoid being bitten

If you are traveling to an area where there is a risk of viral hemorrhagic fever:

  • Wear long sleeves and long pants treated with permethrin

  • Use insect repellent

  • Use mosquito nets in areas where the disease is common

  • Avoid contact with livestock or rodents in areas where the disease is common