Lassa fever, West Africa, Lassa virus, infection, viral disease
This paper focuses on Lassa fever in West Africa. The Lassa virus that causes the fever has been considered a member of Old World Arenaviruses. In this regard, it has been solely considered endemic in West Africa. Its full endemicity is nevertheless unclear especially given the poor contact means as well as poor communication between researchers and people living in the rural area, where the Lassa fever is highly seen according to Mccormick and Johnson (n.d).
[...] Other supportive therapy applied on patients suffering from Lassa fever involves use of analgesics like Paracetamol to aid them in pain relief. As the name suggest, Lassa fever, the disease is always accompanied by severe pains especially headaches and by offering analgesics to the patient, they are relived from pain issues that they are experiencing (Donaldson, 2009). For patients diagnosed by Lassa fever coming from malaria endemic areas, quinine injections is always administered to prevent them from contacting malaria as this would increase their pain and hinder effective treatment process. [...]
[...] This in my opinion will reduce Lassa fever infection (Grove et al., 2011). Abolishing all cultural practices that promotes contact with rodents may also assist in reducing the risk of spread and contact of Lassa fever. A good example is that in Sierra Leon where rodents are common things to most citizens as they interact with them in one way or the other is highly susceptible to cases of Lassa fever outbreak. Rules should be introduced within the country barring anyone from such activities like eating the rodents, or using them for other related purposes. [...]
[...] [Online] Available at: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact =8&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parl.gc.ca%2FHousePublications% 2Fpublication.dspx%3FDocid%3D4015133%26file%3D4&ei=N4I-VYS- DMTvaIXtgZgO&usg=AFQjCNHG1wl9- baGLazZUe2rBR_gZxFmdw&sig2=ONCn12Cwv9TvCUmnhf4j4Q&bvm=bv.91665533 ,d.d2s [Accessed 18 April 2015]. Jessica N. Grove, Luis M. Branco, Matt L. Boisen, Ivana J. Muncy, Lee A. Henderson, John S. Schieffellin, James E. Robinson, James J. Bangura, Mbalu Fonnie, Randal J. Schoepp, Lisa E. [...]
[...] She thus prefers to diligently continue with her duties despite the ailment. Likewise, patients on drug treatment for Ribavirin are always exposed to the strict treatment chart because failure to follow the treatment chart or discontinuing with the process of drug treatment leads to severe implications health wise to the patient involved. Moreover, the treatment of Lassa fever using drug treatment has severe side effects like abnormal bleeding, red eyes and swollen neck or face. The side effects experienced from the drug treatment has always been a barrier to the success of healing to illiterate patients who are enrolled in the drug treatment process. [...]
[...] This has been attributed to the rampant increase in the African population. This increased population has led to scarcity of resources and as such the available sewerage line cannot adequately serve them. A good example is that most slums in the West African regions stands high chances of spreading the disease more rapidly than normal areas because of air circulating through the area is limited and practically shared by everyone. Lack of education among patients is also an infrastructural factor responsible for the spread of Lassa fever in West African countries. [...]
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