ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Ebola virus and Marburg virus

What is Ebola virus and Marburg virus?

18:45 - 18 January , 2024

Disease

They are rare but potentially fatal viral infections because they can cause severe bleeding and multiple organ failures.
Ebola and Marburg viruses are transmitted through direct contact with:

  • Body fluids of an infected person, that is, through urine, feces, blood, saliva, semen, or sweat.
  • Contaminated clothing or objects.

These viruses are transmitted when symptoms occur, which can appear suddenly between eight and ten days after exposure to the virus.

Signs and symptoms Ebola virus and Marburg virus

  • Exhaustion.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Sore muscles and joints.
  • Chills.
  • Rash.
  • Migraine.
  • Abdominal discomfort.
  • High fever.
  • Vomit.
  • Subcutaneous hemorrhage, in internal organs, mouth, nose, eyes, and ears.

If not diagnosed and treated in time, Ebola and Marburg viruses can cause dehydration, a sudden drop in blood pressure, arrhythmias, and death.

Diagnosis and treatment Ebola virus and Marburg virus

The diagnosis of these viruses can be complex, since they share similar symptoms to other infectious processes, so once the doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and request the following tests to help them corroborate that it is the Ebola or Marburg virus, such as:

  • Blood and urine tests.
  • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  • Antigen detection tests.
  • Seroneutralization test.
  • Isolation of the virus in a cell culture.

Since these are viral diseases, no medicines cure the infection so you will remain hospitalized, isolated from other patients, to be constantly monitored.

Treatment will depend on the severity of the symptoms but typically includes:

  • Intravenous fluids.
  • Blood pressure control.
  • Blood transfusions.
  • Ventilator.

In ABC Medical Center Internal Medicine Department, we provide you with health care services with the highest quality and safety, from prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological conditions, both chronic-degenerative and acute, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments

Internal Medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • who.int
  • cigna.com
  • elsevier.es
  • woah.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • merckmanuals.com
  • msdmanuals.com
  • medigraphic.com
  • Miranda GO, Castro BCM, Fleites AYA, et al. Factores pronósticos clínicos determinantes en la supervivencia de pacientes con el virus Ébola. Rev Cub Med Mil. 2020;49(4):.
  • Alvarez-Risco A, Dawson J, Johnson W, et al. Ebola virus disease outbreak: a global approach for health systems. Rev Cubana Farm. 2020;53(4):1-11.
  • Burgueño-Sosa EE, Esquivel-Gómez LR, Rivadeneyra-Gutiérrez E, et al. Generalidades de la familia Filoviridae y el virus del Ébola: una actualización de sus implicaciones en la población humana. Rev Biomed. 2020;31(1):58-68.

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