The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is one of the most recent epidemics in Western Africa. People fear this type of disease due to its contagious characteristic and high mortality rate. The EVD is caused by the groups of Ebola viruses and it could affect humans and several species of primates. In 2015, there are more than 28,000 cases of EVD reported in West Africa which resulted to more than 11,000 deaths (Uyeki et al. np). Challenges to combat the effects of this epidemic have been the major barriers in West Africa such as lack of resources and health care personnel. One of the clinical trials or studies to understand the management of EVD was conducted by Uyeki et al. (np).
According to the clinical study, the major symptoms or signs of the EVD includes fatigue and high fever. Other patients diagnosed with EVD also experience gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and renal problems (Uyeki et al. np). Patients also experience hypoxemia or the lack of oxygen in the blood. Sore throat and muscle pain is also a common symptom of EVD. The Ebola Viruses commonly affects the blood cells and disrupts its functions such as transferring oxygen to every part of the body as well as the functions of the kidney and liver (Uyeki et al. np). It is the major reason why muscle pain and fatigue is experienced by patients diagnosed with EVD. In extreme cases, internal and external bleeding is also recognized in some cases of EVD among patients. This is commonly caused by extreme fluid loss in the body and extremely low blood pressure.
For the diagnosis of EVD, clinical or laboratory tests are commonly included. One of the major signs of EVD is Leukopenia or the lack of white blood cells in the body. Another sign is the Thrombocytopenia or the lack of platelets in the blood. Other laboratory trials are also needed for the diagnosis of EVD. In the study of Uyeki et al (np), high levels of aminotransferase, bilirubin, creatine kinase, serum lactate and creatinine in the blood are recognized in most patients diagnosed with EVD. These substances could be used for the laboratory diagnosis of the EVD.
In most cases, supportive clinical care is provided to the patients diagnosed with EVD due to the lack of therapeutic methods or medical strategies to treat the disease (Uyeki et al. np). Intravenous electrolyte-replacement fluids are provided to patients in order to reduce the gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and renal problems (Uyeki et al. np). It could also be provided orally in order to replace the lost body fluids due to high fever. Respiratory support or care is also provided to the patients due to the lack of blood cells to transmit oxygen throughout the body.
In general, most of the cases of EVD in West Africa are in critical or fatal conditions. In the United States or in Europe, the mortality rate of EVD is at 18% while the mortality rate of EVD in West Africa ranges from 37% to 74%. The difference could be attributed to the lack of medical resources such as devices, apparatus and health care personnel in West Africa. Clinical trials show that investigational therapies such as immunotherapies and countering vascular leaks are helpful in understanding the nature of EVD. Lastly, clinical trials also show that respiratory care is essential in reducing the mortality rate of EVD.
Work Cited:
Uyeki, Timothy., Mehta, Aneesh., Davey, Richard., Liddell, Alison., Wolf, Timo., & Vetter, Pauline. “Clinical Management of Ebola Virus Disease in the United States and Europe”. The New England Journal of Medicine. 374 (2016): 636-646. Web. <http://www.nejm.org/doi/citedby/10.1056/NEJMoa1504874#t=article>
