Dr. Jessica Pelletier and Dr. Sabel Bass co-interview Dr. Valentine Aroh, discussing the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, management, and prevention of Lassa fever.
Take-Home Points:
- Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to West Africa.
- Rats are the primary animal reservoir and are becoming more of an issue as dry seasons lengthen in the face of climate change.
- Mortality rates vary widely due to underreporting; many cases are asymptomatic, but among the symptomatic, mortality is quite high.
- Pregnant women are at extremely high risk for severe disease and death.
- Lassa can resemble other endemic viral illnesses and hemorrhagic fevers, but facial swelling is a distinctive feature.
- RT-PCR is the gold standard for diagnosis.
- Treatment is largely symptomatic, but Ribavirin can be tried in the first 6 days of symptoms.
- Contact and droplet precautions are essential to prevent the spread of disease.
You can view the full show notes and references here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pn2Ml_rDbHfgBqHRC9KIWL6z5qlUsR8QeeghcAavy6o/edit?usp=sharing
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