Ebola disease: symptoms, causes to treatment

What is Ebola disease?

Ebola is a dangerous disease caused by a viral infection. This disease is characterized by symptoms of high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and bleeding in the body.

The virus that causes Ebola disease is highly contagious and the infection can be life threatening. About 90% of patients infected with this disease do not survive. Ebola disease has become an epidemic in countries on the African continent such as Congo, Sudan and Uganda.

Until now, there has never been a case of Ebola disease in Indonesia. Even so, it is important to remain vigilant and prevent transmission of this disease.

Ebola virus is a virus originating from animals (zoonoses) such as monkeys, chimpanzees and other perimata animals. Transmission of the virus between humans can occur through contact with bodily fluids and cuts to the skin of an infected person.

How common is this disease?

This disease is rare, but classified as having a very serious impact. This disease occurs most frequently in Africa. The most recent Ebola outbreak was discovered on June 1, 2020 in Congo.

If you plan to travel to an Ebola outbreak area, make sure you take the necessary steps to protect yourself. This disease can affect both men and women at any age.

Signs and symptoms of Ebola disease

Signs and symptoms usually appear suddenly within 5-10 days after the body is infected with the virus. Early signs and symptoms of Ebola include:

• Fever
• Shivering
• Joint and muscle pain
• Severe headache
• Weak

Over time, the symptoms of Ebola disease can develop worse and include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea (may be accompanied by bleeding)
• Red eye
• Skin rash
• Chest pain and cough
• Drastic weight loss
• Internal bleeding (inside the body)
• Bleeding from the eye and bruising (severe symptoms may occur in the ear, nose, and anus).

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned, it's best to contact the hospital first.

This method can help the medical team to make your handling easier, as well as prevent the Ebola virus from spreading more widely to other people.

Call your doctor immediately if:

• You have flu-like symptoms and you may have been exposed to the virus.
• You have been in contact with someone who is infected with the virus.

Complications

This disease can cause death for most of the people affected. As the infection progresses, this disease can cause complications such as:

• Organ failure
• Heavy bleeding
• Jaundice
• Seizures
• Coma
• Shock

One of the reasons the Ebola virus is so deadly is because it interferes with the immune system's ability to defend itself.

However, scientists do not understand why some people recover, while others survive.

For those who survive, recovery will be slow. It may take months to get the initial strength. The virus will remain in the body for weeks.

Causes of Ebola disease

Ebola disease is caused by a viral infection that belongs to the Filoviridae virus family. The virus that causes Ebola disease originates from monkeys, chimpanzees and other primates.

There are 5 strains Ebola virus that can live in the body of animals, four of which are known to infect humans. The virus was first discovered in Africa, but is known to exist strain lighter ones have been found in monkeys and pigs in the Philippines.

When it enters the body, the virus first goes through an incubation period which can last for 2-21 days before finally infecting and causing symptoms.

Furthermore, the virus will attack the immune system and other organs, especially blood clotting cells. This viral infection can cause serious bleeding in the body's organs and is often uncontrollable.

Transmission from animals to humans

According to the CDC, experts suspect that the Ebola virus passes to humans through the body fluids of infected animals, such as:

• Blood. Slaughtering or eating infected animals can spread the virus. Scientists who have operated on infected animals for research are also exposed to the virus.
• Waste products. Tourists in several caves in Africa as well as several underground mining workers have been infected with the virus. This may be due to contact with the feces or urine of infected bats.

Person-to-person mode of transmission

The virus then spreads from person to person through direct contact with body fluids or skin wounds of an infected person.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, the Ebola virus disease is not transmitted through the air and does not spread through casual contact, such as being near an infected person.

Unlike respiratory diseases, which can be spread via airborne particles after an infected person coughs or sneezes, this virus is spread by direct contact.

The following is a list of body fluids that can transmit the virus that causes Ebola:

• Blood
• Feces
• Vomit
• Saliva
• Mucus
• Tears
• Breast milk
• Urine
• Semen
• Sweat.

People who are infected do not usually pass the disease on until they experience symptoms.

Family members are often infected because they usually care for sick relatives or prepare bodies for burial.

Some transmission can also occur due to reuse of needles and syringes that are not sterile because they have been contaminated.

There was no evidence that the virus could be spread by insect bites.

Risk factors

The risk of transmitting this disease can increase if you:

• Travel to Africa or countries where the Ebola outbreak occurs.
• Caring for infected patients or family members without wearing protective equipment, such as masks and gloves.
• Preparing bodies to bury patients who died. The patient's body can still transmit the virus that causes Ebola.
• Come into contact with an infected person
• Conduct research on animals such as monkeys from Africa or the Philippines.

Diagnosis

This disease is quite difficult to diagnose because the early signs and symptoms resemble other diseases, such as typhoid and malaria.

If your doctor suspects you have Ebola virus, he will order blood tests to identify the virus, including:

• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
• Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Ebola disease treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

So far, antiviral drugs to cure Ebola disease have not been found.

However, researchers are still trying to find the right treatment, such as blood plasma, immune therapy, and the use of medical serum. Although this method of treatment is still being evaluated for its effectiveness and risk.

Current medical treatment aims to relieve symptoms and boost the immune system so that it can fight viral infections.

Some of the medical procedures in the hospital for supporting treatment of Ebola disease include:

• Infusion of fluids and electrolytes to increase hydration
• Giving oxygen to maintain oxygen levels in the body
• Medication to lower blood pressure
• Blood transfusion
• Medicines to reduce nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

The only way to treat a disease is to seek immediate medical attention as soon as you come in contact with the virus or when symptoms begin.

Seek immediate medical attention in the following situations:

• If you are traveling to a place known to have an epidemic such as African countries.
• If you have contact with sufferers.
• If you have symptoms that mimic a disease.

How to prevent transmission

The spread of Ebola disease can still be prevented. However, a vaccine to prevent this viral infection is not yet available in Indonesia.

In late 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, approved the distribution of the VSV-ZEBOV (Ervebo ™) vaccine to prevent infection with the Ebola virus.

Apart from vaccines, prevention methods can still be done by reducing things that increase the risk of infection, such as:

• Wash your hands using soap or alcoholic cleaners and running water after doing activities.
• Reducing contact or biting of wild animals such as bats, monkeys and other types of perimata.
• Avoid consuming meat or blood of wild animals.
• Avoid contact with people with symptoms such as high fever or infected people.
• Not changing sexual partners and using condoms during sexual intercourse.
• Use personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, eye protection and protective clothing for doctors, nurses, or families caring for infected patients.
• Avoid contact with the patient's body.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.