Definition:
Viral hemorrhagic fever, VHF for brevity, is a group of illnesses that are caused by a taxonomically diverse group of simple RNA viruses with lipid envelopes (Gravenstein, N., Lobato, E., Kirby, R. (2007) Complications in Anesthesiology, p.446). It is an illness which is commonly detected or seen in both human and animals.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis is usually made through laboratory with advanced biocontainment capabilities which is usually accomplished through hypoclorite and phenolic disinfectants
(Woods, Lt Col Jon B. (ed.) (April 2005). USAMRIID's Medical Management of Biological Casualties Handbook, 6th ed., U.S. Army Medical Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, 143-144.)
Treatment:
Treatment often includes antiviral therapy with intravenous ribavirin which is usually useful in Bunyaviridae and Arenaviridae infections and can be used only under an experimental protocol as US FDA approved investigational new drug.
Symptoms and Signs:
The symptoms of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever include fever and bleeding diathesis. It also becomes manifest through often flushing of the face and chest, petechiae, frank bleeding, edema, hypotension and shock. It may also become manifest through frequent vomiting and headache and diarrhea.
Causes:
It is often said to be caused from varying mechanisms of pathogenesis. Such theory is often called the “anti-body dependent enhancement.
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