infection

Lassa fever

Lassa fever, also known as Lassa hemorrhagic fever, is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus. Many of those infected by the virus do not develop symptoms. When symptoms occur, they typically include fever, weakness, headaches, vomiting, and muscle pains. Less commonly there may be bleeding from the mouth or tract. The risk of death once infected is about one percent and frequently occurs within two weeks of the onset of symptoms. Of those who survive, about a quarter have hearing loss, which improves within three months in about half of these cases.

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Symptoms — what it feels like

·Fever, headaches, bleeding

Causes — why it happens

·Lassa virus

How it's found

·Laboratory testing

Treatment

·Supportive

Complications

·Partial or complete, temporary or permanent hearing loss

Outlook

·~1% risk of death with treatment

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Plain-language summary adapted from Wikipedia. Not medical advice.