What is Marburg disease and its treatment?

Marburg disease, also known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever or simply Marburg virus, is a very rare disease that causes very high fever, muscle pain and, in some cases, bleeding from various parts of the body, such as gums, eyes or nose.

This disease is most common in areas where bats of the species Rousettus exist and is therefore more common in countries in Africa and South Asia, however, the infection can easily pass from person to person through contact with the secretions of the patient., such as blood, saliva and other bodily fluids.

  • Because it is part of the phyllovirus family.
  • Has high mortality and has the same forms of transmission.
  • The Marburg virus is often compared to Ebola.

Symptoms of Marburg fever usually appear suddenly and include

Many people infected with the Marburg virus may also experience bleeding in various parts of the body, 5 to 7 days after the onset of symptoms.The most common sites of bleeding are the eyes, gums and nose, but there may also be red spots or scabs on the skin.skin, as well as blood in the stool or vomiting.

Symptoms caused by Marburg fever are similar to those of other viral diseases.Therefore, the best way to confirm the diagnosis is to perform blood tests to identify specific antibodies, in addition to testing certain secretions in the laboratory.

The Marburg virus was originally transmitted to humans by exposure to places inhabited by bats of the species Rousettus; However, after contamination, the virus can pass from person to person through contact with bodily fluids, such as blood or saliva.

Therefore, it is very important that the infected person remains isolated, avoiding going to public places, where they can contaminate others, in addition, must wear a protective mask and wash their hands frequently to prevent the spread of the virus on surfaces.

Transmission may continue until the virus is completely removed from your blood, i.e. precautions should be taken until treatment is completed and your doctor confirms that the test result no longer shows signs of infection.

There is no specific treatment for Marburg disease, and it should be tailored to each person in order to alleviate the symptoms it presents, however, almost all cases need to be rehydrated and it may be necessary to stay in the hospital to receive serum directly in the vein., in addition to medicines to reduce discomfort.

In some cases, blood transfusions may even be necessary to facilitate the clotting process, avoiding bleeding caused by the disease.

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