Seniors And Lassa Fever Awareness

Introduction

The virus that causes Lassa fever is widespread in West African nations. A subtype of viruses known as viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) that can result in uncontrollably heavy bleeding is called Lassa. Fever, headaches, and exhaustion are the most common moderate symptoms of Lassa fever. Yet 20% or so of those who contract it are quite sick. The risk of miscarriage and other major problems is particularly significant among pregnant women.

Rat faeces and dung are the primary vectors for the spread of Lassa disease. Interaction with an infected person's bodily fluids can also spread it.¹

Every year, between 100,000 and 300,000 cases of Lassa fever are reported, with 5,000 fatalities. These figures are imprecise since Lassa fever surveillance differs depending on the locale. Every year, between 10 and 16 percent of hospital admissions in some parts of Sierra Leone and Liberia are related to Lassa fever. This demonstrates the disease's grave effects on the area.⁴

Seniors are more susceptible to Lassa fever, so it's important to educate them about the illness. Due to their compromised immune systems, seniors are particularly vulnerable to illnesses such as Lassa fever. Reducing their chance of catching the virus can be achieved by educating them about the symptoms, modes of transmission, and precautions. Furthermore, if they do contract the infection, seniors could need particular healthcare interventions, so early detection and rapid medical attention are essential. In general, knowledge gives elders the ability to defend themselves and stop Lassa fever from spreading throughout their communities.

Causes

Lassa fever is caused by Lassa virus (LASV). It is spread by Mastomys rats, also known as "multimammate" rats, which are found in West African nations. The Lassa virus can cause irreversible bleeding by weakening your blood clotting capacity and damaging your blood vessels.¹

Signs and symptoms

Mild symptoms, such as fever, are experienced by about 80% of patients with Lassa fever other symptoms include

• Exhaustion (fatigue)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Ache

A further 20% experience severe symptoms, such as

• Stomach, neck, or chest pain
• Trouble breathing
• Severe diarrhoea or vomiting

· Bleeding from other mucosal surfaces, such as your lips, nose, or eyes.

• Seizures
• Confusion¹

15% to 20% of hospitalized patients with Lassa fever pass away as a result of the disease. That being said, just 1% of Lassa virus infections are fatal. Pregnant women in their third trimester have a notably high fatality rate. With an estimated 95% death rate in fetuses of infected expectant moms, spontaneous abortion is a major infection-related consequence.²

Complications

Approximately one in three Lassa fever patients get partial or total hearing loss, even in moderate instances. This could be a one-time or ongoing issue.

Severe Lassa fever patients may experience potentially fatal consequences. Among them are:

• Loss of pregnancy or miscarriage. When a pregnant parent has Lassa virus infection, more than 75% of pregnancies result in the loss of the fetus
• Pericarditis, or inflammation of the lining surrounding the heart
• Your lungs' surrounding fluid (pleural effusion)
• Inflammation and infection of internal organs, such as the liver (hepatitis)
• Thrombocytopenia, or low platelets. This could result in uncontrollable bleeding
• Abrupt renal failure (acute kidney damage)
• Problems with brain function (encephalopathy)
• Syndrome of acute respiratory distress (ARDS). This may make it so that your body doesn't obtain enough oxygen
• Severe conditions affecting blood coagulation, such as diffused intravascular coagulation (DIC)
• Sepsis is a serious infection-related reaction

Diagnosis

The most common method for diagnosing Lassa fever is to use enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic tests (ELISA), which identify the Lassa antigen along with IgM and IgG antibodies. Early in a disease's progression, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) can be employed. It can take seven to ten days to culture the virus itself, but this process should only be carried out in a high-containment lab that follows the best procedures. Post-mortem diagnosis using immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed tissue specimens is possible.²

Transmission

There is a 2–21 day incubation period for Lassa fever. Humans contract it by coming into contact with food or household goods tainted with rodent urine or faeces. When a person comes into contact with a Lassa virus-infected person's blood, tissue, secretions, or excretions, the virus may spread from person to person. Person-to-person infections are conceivable in hospitals that do not have sufficient infection control procedures in place. 15% of hospitalized patients with severe Lassa fever cases end up dead⁽⁴⁾.

High-risk group

People who travel to or reside in endemic areas, such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria, and who come into contact with multimammate rats, are most at risk of contracting the Lassa virus. There may be a risk of exposure in other West African nations where Mastomys rats are found. As long as precautions are taken and appropriate sterilization techniques are followed, hospital staff members are not at high risk of infection.²

The following are the salient features of the heightened risk of Lassa fever in seniors:

Immune system weakness: Seniors are more susceptible to illnesses like Lassa fever since their immune systems are frequently compromised.

Concomitant medical diseases: If a senior develops Lassa fever, they may be more susceptible to serious complications due to underlying medical issues including diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease.

Restricted mobility and cognitive impairments: Seniors who suffer from these conditions may find it difficult to take preventative actions like washing their hands often or avoiding contact with rodents.

Greater chance of serious complications: Seniors who contract Lassa fever are more likely to die from the disease's severe sequelae, which include organ failure, because of age-related variables.

Preventive measures

To prevent mice from entering households, it is important to promote "community hygiene" as a means of preventing Lassa disease. Good practices include keeping homes tidy, keeping cats, putting trash outside the house, and storing grains and other items in containers that are resistant to rodents. The abundance of mastomys in endemic locations makes it impossible to eradicate them from the environment. When providing care for sick people, family members should always take precautions to avoid coming into contact with bodily fluids like blood.

Regardless of the patient's supposed diagnosis, staff members in healthcare facilities should always follow basic infection prevention and control procedures when providing care. These include using personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent splashes or other contacts with contaminated materials, practising safe injection techniques, practising basic hand and respiratory hygiene, and following safe burial procedures.

To avoid coming into touch with the patient's blood or bodily fluids as well as contaminated surfaces or materials like clothing and bedding, healthcare professionals tending to patients with suspected or confirmed Lassa fever should take special precautions against infection. Healthcare professionals should wear sterile gloves for some procedures, a clean, non-sterile long-sleeve gown, and facial protection (a face shield or medical mask and goggles) when near (within one meter) to patients with Lassa fever.³

Workers in laboratories are also in danger. Human and animal samples collected for Lassa virus infection research should be handled by personnel with the necessary training and processed in labs with the necessary equipment under conditions of maximum biological containment.

Treatment

Patients with Lassa fever have responded well to treatment with the antiviral medication ribavirin. Early in the course of the sickness is when it has been demonstrated to be most effective. In addition, patients should get supportive care that includes treating any additional aggravating infections and maintaining proper blood pressure, oxygenation, and electrolyte and fluid balance.²

Community engagement

The Mano River Union Lassa Fever Network was established in collaboration with the Ministries of Health of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, the World Health Organization, the Office of the United States Foreign Disaster Assistance, the United Nations, and additional partners. The program helps these three nations improve laboratory diagnosis for Lassa fever and other serious illnesses, as well as build national preventative strategies. Included is training in environmental control, clinical management, and laboratory diagnosis.³

Need for early detection and proper care: Early detection and prompt medical care are essential for seniors if they do contract Lassa fever, as timely intervention can help reduce the severity of the illness and improve outcomes.

Importance of awareness and education: Raising awareness among seniors about Lassa fever symptoms, transmission routes, and preventive measures is crucial to empower them to protect themselves and prevent the spread of the virus within their communities.

Summary

In conclusion, raising awareness among seniors about Lassa fever is paramount to mitigate their heightened risk of infection and severe complications. Seniors' weakened immune systems and underlying health conditions make them particularly vulnerable to the virus, necessitating proactive education efforts. By informing seniors about the symptoms, transmission routes, and preventive measures associated with Lassa fever, they can take proactive steps to protect themselves and their communities. Moreover, addressing the unique challenges faced by seniors, such as limited mobility and cognitive impairments, ensures that awareness campaigns are accessible and inclusive.

Early detection and prompt medical care are crucial for seniors if they do contract the virus, underscoring the importance of timely intervention. Ultimately, empowering seniors with knowledge equips them to make informed decisions about their health and reduces the likelihood of transmission within their demographic. By fostering a culture of awareness and preparedness, we can effectively safeguard seniors against the threat of Lassa fever and promote their well-being in the face of infectious diseases.