Lassa Fever: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

History of the Topic 

Lassa Fever is a viral illness that is caused by the virus known as Lassa. The illness was discovered in Nigeria in 1969 following cases involved two missionaries that died of the disease (Ilori et al., 2019). The Lassa virus is a single-stranded virus, which is animal-borne and results in the development of various signs and symptoms associated with the illness. Over the years, Lassa fever has become endemic in different parts of West Africa. The virus spread in countries such as Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone among other countries within the region that are at risk of the virus. In 2009, the virus spread in Mali, where different cases of the condition were reported. Later in 2019, the disease spread in Ghana, resulting in various instances of the infection among individuals in different parts of the country. Considering the prevalence rates of the illness in the West Africa region, there is an indication that the area is at risk of more cases involving the spread of the condition. 

Geographic Considerations of Lassa Fever 

Lassa fever is a prevalent condition in the West African region owing to the climatic conditions that contribute to the widespread of the virus that is responsible for the illness. The infection, which is name after a town in Nigeria is common in the region considering that the virus is animal-borne and is transmitted with the exposure to rats that bear the virus. The essential qualities of the location that make Nigeria and other West Africa countries vulnerable to the condition is the fact that the rats in the region have a significant role in transmitting the virus (Du Toit, 2018). It is important to note that other parts of the world have a minimal risk of contracting the virus, considering that the infected rodents only survive within the given region. However, an infected individual may transmit the condition to other humans, acknowledging that the virus could be transmitted through inhalation and ingestion of food that is contaminated with the virus. 

Signs and Symptoms of Lassa Fever 

Upon contacting the virus, the signs and symptoms of the condition may manifest between 7 to 21days. During the 21days period, approximately 80% of individuals portray mild signs and symptoms of the virus, while 20% of the people experience severe symptoms that are associated with the illness (Kafetzopoulou et al., 2019). The mild symptoms of the condition include high fever, feelings of tiredness, headache, and general body weakness. Consistency of the mentioned signs and symptoms provide a significant indicator that there could be an underlying condition, which is associated with the Lassa virus. Although an infected individual may experience all the requirements, different individuals have different body reactions after contracting the virus. In that case, some patients may portray two or more signs, which are persistent and those that do reduce or go away after taking simple medication. 

On the other hand, the severe signs of the symptoms include difficulty in breathing, vomiting, sharp chest pains, and bleeding gums. Additionally, individuals with the virus tend to experience dangerously low blood pressure, which is a significant risk on the general health of a patient. The severe symptoms act as an indicator that the condition is at a worse stage thus the need to undertake measures that would help in ensuring that the patient is safe and that they do not get to the long term complications that are associated with the virus. In a situation where the infection goes untreated, the patients tend to experience long term complications that may include loss of hearing and miscarriages among pregnant women. Additionally, worsened cases of the illness may result in the death of the patients, which is a risk for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and infants. 

Vulnerable Populations at risk 

Although the virus can be a risk to all people regardless of their age and physical abilities, some populations may be at a higher risk. The populations at risk tend to be affected by the virus at a higher rate than others and experience severe signs and symptoms within a shorter time. The aboriginal community that is at risk of the illness involves the individuals residing within the regions that have been identified as crucial spots for the spread of the virus (Raabe, V., & Koehler, 2017). In that case, people in the countries within the West Africa Region tend to be more vulnerable, unlike individuals in another part of the world, such as in America and Europe. Secondly, children and infants are a vulnerable population considering that their immune system may not be in a proper position to effectively fight the virus. In that case, infants and children infected with the condition tend to experience severe signs and symptoms, which may be fatal if not treated effectively. 

The elderly population may also be vulnerable, considering that the virus interferes with the immunity of an individual. In that case, an individual requires having a healthy and resistant immune system that helps in overcoming the mild signs and symptoms of the condition. The elderly population tends to have a weakened immune system, which is a factor that creates a loophole for contracting any form of infection that may be caused by different types of viruses. Additionally, individuals with pre-existing conditions tend to be at risk of contracting the disease owing to the existing conditions that weaken their ability to fight and overcome new infections. Lastly, pregnant women are a vulnerable population that may experience severe illnesses upon contracting the disease, thereby experiencing long-term effects. 

Risk Factors 

The first significant risk factor associated with the illness entails exposure to the host of the Lassa virus, which is a rodent known as “multimammate rat” (Kafetzopoulou et al., 2019). Considering that the virus is animal-borne, the rodents have a significant role in the transmission of the virus. In the situation where the rodent has the virus, it has the ability to secrete the virus and passes the virus to the offspring. The “multimammate rat" has the ability to breed frequently, which is a factor that contributes to an increase in the existence of the virus. The transmission of the virus from the virus is enhanced in the situations where the infected rodents infest the human food stores and shed urine that gets into contact with the food or materials used by humans. In that case, exposure to the urine or droppings from the rodents results in the transmission of the virus. 

The second major risk factor of the virus entails exposure to infected individuals. The transmission of the virus from humans to fellow humans can occur through inhalation or through the ingestion of food that is contaminated with the virus (Du Toit, 2018). Additionally, exposure to open sores from individuals infected with the virus may have a significant role in the transmission of the illness. Another significant risk factor of the condition entails travelling to regions that have been identified to be endemic. Considering that the virus was first discovered in Nigeria, which is a country within the West African region, it is likely that travelling to the area may create an avenue for contracting the virus. Lastly, occupational exposure to the condition in the healthcare facility may be a risk factor, which is a factor that may be associated with the negligence of the health professionals. 

Abatement Procedure and Treatment Protocol 

Considering that Lassa fever is a viral illness, it is difficult to identify the disease in its early stages, considering that the signs and symptoms appear like those of other viral infections. In that case, the diagnosis of the condition requires the implementation of appropriate that helps in identifying the Lassa virus, which is responsible for the illness. The diagnosis process involves the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assays, which helps in detecting the Lassa virus, thus ascertaining the existence of Lassa fever (Bhadelia, 2019). Upon the diagnosis of the condition, it is essential to capitalize on treatment protocols that may help in overcoming the condition and reducing the severity of the symptoms. The crucial abatement procedure entails visiting a healthcare facility in a bid to receive proper care and treatment to prevent worsening cases of the condition. 

The treatment of the condition involves the use of the antiviral drug that helps in overcoming the mild and severe signs and symptoms associated with the disease (Bhadelia, 2019). In a case where the drug is administered during the early stages of the disease, the patients tend to heal on a faster rate more than those that receive the prescription during the late stages of the condition. Additionally, the provision of supportive care to the patients suffering from the illness is necessary to ensure that they are engaged in ineffective maintenance of body fluid and electrolyte balance. As the patients undergo the recovery process, the patients are required to undergo counselling regarding measures that should be upheld in a bid to ensure that there are no cases of readmitting regarding the same illness. The proposals include avoiding contact with rodents and ensure that food is stored in a proper environment to ensure that they are infested by rodents that have the virus. 

Actual or Potential Issues in Treatment of the Condition 

The treatment of Lassa fever experiences various issues that hinder the effectiveness of the process. In the developed countries, access to proper medication for the condition is more comfortable compared to the entrance to the drugs in the non-developed countries. In that case, access to medicines is a crucial issue that influences the abatement process and the entire treatment procedures. Another actual issue that concerns the treatment of the illness includes the lifestyle and culture of different people in non-developed countries. The lifestyle of people in the non-developed countries may consist of aspects that promote the transmission of the virus that contributing a wide spread of the illness in society (Ilori et al., 2019). Lastly, the lack of access to healthcare facilities is a significant issue that influences the treatment of the condition, thus leading to worsened cases. 

Role of the Community Health Nurse in the Intervention of the Condition 

Community health nurses have a significant role in the intervention of the illness at a local and national level. The community health nurses engage in day to day interactions with patients affected by the Lassa virus, therefore gaining more knowledge concerning the occurrence and existence of the condition. In that case, the nurses should engage in the assessment of the patients in a bid to provide information regarding the manifestation of the disease. The report on the virus may help in providing the government with adequate information regarding the illness to ensure that appropriate measures are implemented to overcome the transmission of the condition into the future generations (Raabe, V., & Koehler, 2017). Additionally, the nurses have the role of providing supportive care to the patients on the lifestyle measures that should be upheld to avoid the transmission of the condition. 

References 

Bhadelia, N. (2019). Understanding Lassa fever.  Science ,  363 (6422), 30-30. 

Du Toit, A. (2018). Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria.  Nature Reviews Microbiology ,  16 (5), 260. 

Ilori, E. A., Furuse, Y., Ipadeola, O. B., Dan-Nwafor, C. C., Abubakar, A., Womi-Eteng, O. E., ... & Ayodeji, O. (2019). Epidemiologic and Clinical Features of Lassa Fever Outbreak in Nigeria, January 1–May 6, 2018.  Emerging infectious diseases ,  25 (6), 1066. 

Kafetzopoulou, L. E., Pullan, S. T., Lemey, P., Suchard, M. A., Ehichioya, D. U., Pahlmann, M., ... & Efthymiadis, K. (2019). Metagenomic sequencing at the epicenter of the Nigeria 2018 Lassa fever outbreak.  Science ,  363 (6422), 74-77. 

Raabe, V., & Koehler, J. (2017). Laboratory diagnosis of Lassa fever.  Journal of clinical microbiology ,  55 (6), 1629-1637.