Health's Book

Definition

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe and often deadly illness that can occur in humans and in primates (monkeys, gorillas).

Ebola hemorrhagic fever has made worldwide news because of its destructive potential.

Symptoms

During the incubation period, which can last about 1 week, symptoms include:

* Arthritis
* Backache (low-back pain)
* Chills
* Diarrhea
* Fatigue
* Fever
* Headache
* Malaise
* Nausea
* Sore throat
* Vomiting

Late symptoms include:

* Bleeding from eyes, ears, and nose
* Bleeding from the mouth and rectum (gastrointestinal bleeding)
* Depression
* Eye inflammation (conjunctivitis)
* Genital swelling (labia and scrotum)
* Increased feeling of pain in skin
* Rash over the entire body that often contains blood (hemorrhagic)
* Roof of mouth looks red
* Seizures, coma, delirium

As many as 90% of patients die from the disease. Patients usually die from shock rather than from blood loss.