Dr. Jessica Pelletier and Dr. Sabel Bass co-interview Dr. Valentine Aroh, discussing the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, management, and prevention of Lassa fever.

Take-Home Points:

• Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to West Africa.
• Rats are the primary animal reservoir and are becoming more of an issue as dry seasons lengthen in the face of climate change.
• Mortality rates vary widely due to underreporting; many cases are asymptomatic, but among the symptomatic, mortality is quite high.
• Pregnant women are at extremely high risk for severe disease and death.
• Lassa can resemble other endemic viral illnesses and hemorrhagic fevers, but facial swelling is a distinctive feature.
• RT-PCR is the gold standard for diagnosis.
• Treatment is largely symptomatic, but Ribavirin can be tried in the first 6 days of symptoms.
• Contact and droplet precautions are essential to prevent the spread of disease.

You can view the full show notes and references here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pn2Ml_rDbHfgBqHRC9KIWL6z5qlUsR8QeeghcAavy6o/edit?usp=sharing

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