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Viral Hemorrhagic Fever - Types, Causes, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

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Viral hemorrhagic fever can be caused by several families of viruses and damages the body’s vascular system. Read below to know more.

Written byDr. Infanteena Marily F.

Medically reviewed byDr. N. Ashok Viswanath

Published At March 19, 2022
Reviewed AtSeptember 11, 2024

What Is a Viral Hemorrhagic Fever?

Viral hemorrhagic fever is a multisystem syndrome caused by several families of viruses. Few of these viruses can cause mild illnesses, and few can have fatal complications. Viral hemorrhagic fever damages the body's vascular system and causes hemorrhagic or bleeding complications. When the viruses enter the body, they impair the walls of small blood vessels, thereby interfering with their clotting ability.

What Diseases Causes Bleeding From the Eyes, Nose and Mouth?

Hematohidrosis is a rare condition that causes spontaneous bleeding from the ear, nose, and throat, which occurs due to extreme physical or emotional stress. This condition will manifest as spontaneous painless bleeding through unbroken skin in any part of the body. Hyphema is a condition that causes bleeding inside the eyes. This condition will specifically cause the blood to pool behind the cornea and the iris. The most common cause of hyphema is sports injuries.

What Are the Types of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever?

What Causes Viral Hemorrhagic Fever?

Viral hemorrhagic fever is caused by RNA viruses, namely

  • Filovirus.

  • Arenavirus.

  • Flavivirus.

  • Bunyavirus.

How Does the Transmission of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers Occur?

The viruses that cause viral hemorrhagic fevers are transmitted to humans from infected vectors or reservoir hosts.

  1. The reservoir hosts include rodents. When humans come in contact with saliva, urine, feces, or any body fluids of infected rodents, the virus is transmitted, and disease occurs.

  2. The infected hosts transmit the disease. When infected hosts like mosquitoes or ticks bite a healthy human being, the virus enters the person's bloodstream.

  3. In some cases, these vectors transmit the virus to animals, from whom human beings can pick up the virus.

  4. In addition, human-to-human transmission of the virus can also happen. A few examples of such transmission are Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Marburg, Ebola, etc. Close contact, contact with the body fluids, or contact with items infected by the body fluids of the affected individual is responsible for this type of transmission.

What Increases the Risk of Developing Viral Hemorrhagic Fever?

The following factors increase the risk of developing viral hemorrhagic fever:

  • Residing or traveling to areas where this viral hemorrhagic fever occurs.

  • Coming in contact with infected people.

  • Unprotected sex with affected individuals.

  • Animal slaughtering or consuming infected animal meats.

  • Coming in contact with the blood and body fluids of the affected individual.

  • Working in buildings with a rodent infestation.

Where Is Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Common?

Viral hemorrhagic fevers occur worldwide, but their incidence is significantly less in the United States. Africa, Asia, and South America are the most common areas where viral hemorrhagic fevers occur. However, with traveling becoming so common, the spread of this virus has also become prevalent in many areas.

How Is Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Manifested?

Early Signs:

  • Fatigue.

  • Fever.

  • Nausea and vomiting.

  • Pain in the muscles, joints, and bones.

  • Dizziness.

  • Diarrhea.

  • Weakness.

  • Exhaustion.

Severe and Life-threatening Signs:

  • Vascular complications like bleeding. Bleeding occurs in the internal organs, eyes, ears, and mouth.

  • Renal failure.

  • Delirium.

  • Seizures.

  • Liver failure.

  • Lung failure.

  • Failure of the nervous system.

  • Shock.

  • Coma.

How Is Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of viral hemorrhagic fevers includes the following:

  • Physical examination.

  • Travel history.

  • Complete blood count.

  • Coagulation profile.

  • Liver function test.

  • Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

  • Culture test to isolate the virus.

How Is Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Treated?

The first and foremost step in treating viral hemorrhagic fevers is to isolate the person with suspected symptoms and travel history to prevent the spread. Treatment mainly aims to provide supportive care as no specific treatment modality is available.

Each virus requires different treatments, including

  • Ebola Virus and Marburg Virus: It involves supportive care by treating the symptoms present.

  • Lassa Virus: Clinical outcomes show that Ribavirin has a good prognosis when given at the early stages of the disease. LASV-specific monoclonal antibodies and Favipiravir are under study.

  • Dengue Fever: Dengue fever also does not have a specific treatment method. The only recommended treatment is supportive care.

  • Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever: Laboratory studies have suggested Ribavirin is effective. However, the recommended choice is supportive care.

What Are the Complications of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers?

  • Multiorgan failure.

  • Death.

What Is the Differential Diagnosis of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers?

How Is Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Prevented?

Vaccination:

  • An essential method of preventing viral hemorrhagic fevers is to get the available vaccination. Vaccinations are not available for all hemorrhagic fevers.

  • The Ebola virus vaccine is available and has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

  • Vaccines for yellow fever are also available for everyone. However, infants under nine months, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women in their first trimester should not get the vaccine.

  • A vaccine is available for dengue fever in Southeast Asia and Latin America; however, this vaccine is recommended in individuals with previous dengue infection by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Protection Against Mosquitoes and Ticks:

While traveling to areas with viral hemorrhagic fever or living in such places, do the following to avoid mosquitoes and ticks:

  • Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts.

  • Choose light color clothing.

  • If possible, use clothes coated with Permethrin. However, Permethrins should not be applied to the skin directly.

  • Avoid going out in the evening when mosquitoes are very active.

  • Use insect repellents made of 20 % to 25 % of DEET to both skin and clothes.

  • Use bed nets or mosquito coils.

Protection Against Rodents:

  • Regularly and adequately dispose of the garbage.

  • Use tight-fitting screens on windows and doors.

  • Keep trash in rodent-proof containers and clean them adequately.

  • Do cover pet food and store it in rodent-proof containers.

  • Trim the lawn closely.

  • Place the brick stacks, woodpiles, or other dumped materials at a distance of 100 feet from the living area.

Conclusion:

Viral hemorrhagic fevers are commonly seen in tropical areas. There is no specific treatment available, and vaccines are available only for a few fevers. Therefore, preventing the disease in the first place is essential. Follow adequate preventive measures to avoid one.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, dengue is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever. It is caused by the dengue virus which spreads through mosquito bites. Apart from other symptoms, this may cause bleeding due to the reduction of platelets. That is why it is known as hemorrhagic fever. 
Viral hemorrhagic fever is a group of disorders characterized by cardiovascular problems, several organ involvements, and hemorrhagic skin spots. Four families of viruses mainly cause this: Arenaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Filoviridae, and Flaviviridae.
Viral hemorrhagic fever may cause serious complications and life-threatening situations. However, if diagnosed at an early stage, these disorders can be cured. Also, certain viral hemorrhagic fevers like yellow fever have vaccines against them. 
Viral hemorrhagic fevers spread in multiple ways. Dengue is spread through mosquitoes. Viral fever is caused by the Arenaviridae family of viruses spread through rodents. The Ebola virus spread through contact with infected animals like bats.
Yes, hemorrhagic fever may cause joint and muscle pain. Also, patients complain of severe headaches and high-grade fever. That is why it is known as break-bone fever. Other than this, skin rashes, nausea, and vomiting can be observed in some patients.
The confirmatory diagnosis of hemorrhagic fever is made through blood and urine sample tests. The presence of viral proteins and antibodies is essential for confirmatory diagnosis. And since this condition is highly contagious, the diagnostic tests are performed with extra precautions.
Not all hemorrhagic fever spreads through person-to-person contact. But certain conditions like Ebola infection and hantavirus infections can spread from human to human. However, contact with an infected animal may also spread the infection.
Yes, viral hemorrhagic fever may cause death—dengue cases destruction of platelets. Severe hemorrhage and bleeding from internal organs of the body activates several metabolic pathways. This is responsible for kidney and hepatic dysfunctions. This may lead to death.
Ebola is the deadliest hemorrhagic fever. This type of viral infection is prevalent in Africa. Bats spread this. It is spread through saliva, sweat, blood, vomit, feces, breast milk, urine, and semen of the affected person.
The death rate of viral hemorrhagic fever depends on the type and severity of the infection. Some viral hemorrhagic fevers like Ebola infection and yellow fever are fatal. Even dengue may cause death if not diagnosed at an early stage. 
Early diagnosis of the disorder, proper care, and application of the medication are helpful for the survival of hemorrhagic fever. There is no specific treatment for dengue. Only drugs such as Paracetamol are given to these patients. For treating Ebola, fluid and electrolyte supplements, along with medications for blood pressure and vomiting, are prescribed.
With early diagnosis, proper care, and the help of modern medicine, one can easily recover from dengue. There is no specific drug for treating dengue. Only Paracetamol is prescribed in such cases. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are not prescribed, as these may induce bleeding.
Most hemorrhagic fevers are rare. However, certain diseases like dengue are common in countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Ebola is seen in African countries. Yellow fever is also common in African countries and China.
No chikungunya does cause viral hemorrhagic fever. Chikungunya is a viral infection caused by mosquito bites. People who suffer from chikungunya complain of fever, joint pain, and joint swelling. However, hemorrhage or bleeding is not observed.
Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes transmit the dengue virus. Though dengue does not spread from person to person, it can be transmitted to babies from pregnant mothers.
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Dr. N. Ashok Viswanath from iCliniq
Dr. N. Ashok Viswanath

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