Symptoms of Lassa Fever

In 80% of cases, the disease is asymptomatic, but in the remaining 20%, it takes a complicated course. The virus is estimated to be responsible for about 5,000 deaths annually. The fever accounts for up to one-third of deaths in hospitals within the affected regions and 10 to 16% of total cases.
After an incubation period of six to 21 days, an acute illness with multiorgan involvement develops. Nonspecific symptoms include fever, facial swelling, and muscle fatigue, as well as conjunctivitis and mucosal bleeding. The other symptoms arising from the affected organs are:
*. Gastrointestinal tract
*. Nausea
*. Vomiting (bloody)
*. Diarrhea(bloody)
*. Stomach ache
*. Constipation
*. Dysphagia(difficulty swallowing)
*. Hepatitis
*. Cardiovascular system
*. Pericarditis
*. Hypertension
*. Hypotension
*. Tachycardia (abnormally high heart rate)
*. Respiratory tract
*. Cough
*.Chest pain
*. Dyspnoea
*. Pharyngitis
*. Pleuritis
*. Nervous system
*. Encephalitis
*. Meningitis
*.Unilateral or bilateral hearing deficit
Lassa fever infections are difficult to distinguish from other viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola and Marburg, and from more common febrileillnesses such as malaria.
The virus is excreted in urine for 3-9 weeks and in semen for three months.