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Mortality Among Lassa Fever Patients: A Systematic Review

Received: 24 February 2021    Accepted: 8 March 2021    Published: 26 March 2021
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Abstract

Background: Lassa fever is a disease of public health importance because of its morbidity and associated mortality and also because of its potential for residual morbidity such as hearing loss and social stigma. Knowledge of the mortality among Lassa fever patients is one way of assessing the effectiveness of the current strategies employed in Lassa fever management. This article is aimed at reviewing mortalities among Lassa fever patients. Methods: The relevant articles for the review were searched and obtained through the PubMed database. Data of interest were confirmed cases of Lassa fever, number of deaths and case fatality rates. Findings: All the studies reviewed were carried out in the Lassa fever endemic zone of West Africa. The case fatality rates in Lassa fever ranged from 24% to 61%, with a mean of 36%. More cases of Lassa fever and more deaths occurred during Lassa fever outbreaks. Patient’s age, co-existing medical conditions as well as complications arising from Lassa virus infection were the determinant factors for patients’ survival. Conclusion: The case fatality rate in Lassa fever was very high among hospitalized patients. Timely therapeutic intervention, infection prevention and control measures and well-coordinated response during Lassa fever outbreaks are necessary for favourable outcomes in Lassa fever management.

Published in American Journal of Internal Medicine (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajim.20210902.15
Page(s) 87-90
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Death in Lassa Fever, Case Fatality in Lassa Fever, Patient’s Survival in Lassa Fever

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Peter Ekpunobi Chime, Ethel Nkechi Chime, Uzoma Chukwunonso Okechukwu. (2021). Mortality Among Lassa Fever Patients: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Internal Medicine, 9(2), 87-90. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20210902.15

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    ACS Style

    Peter Ekpunobi Chime; Ethel Nkechi Chime; Uzoma Chukwunonso Okechukwu. Mortality Among Lassa Fever Patients: A Systematic Review. Am. J. Intern. Med. 2021, 9(2), 87-90. doi: 10.11648/j.ajim.20210902.15

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    AMA Style

    Peter Ekpunobi Chime, Ethel Nkechi Chime, Uzoma Chukwunonso Okechukwu. Mortality Among Lassa Fever Patients: A Systematic Review. Am J Intern Med. 2021;9(2):87-90. doi: 10.11648/j.ajim.20210902.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajim.20210902.15,
      author = {Peter Ekpunobi Chime and Ethel Nkechi Chime and Uzoma Chukwunonso Okechukwu},
      title = {Mortality Among Lassa Fever Patients: A Systematic Review},
      journal = {American Journal of Internal Medicine},
      volume = {9},
      number = {2},
      pages = {87-90},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajim.20210902.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20210902.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajim.20210902.15},
      abstract = {Background: Lassa fever is a disease of public health importance because of its morbidity and associated mortality and also because of its potential for residual morbidity such as hearing loss and social stigma. Knowledge of the mortality among Lassa fever patients is one way of assessing the effectiveness of the current strategies employed in Lassa fever management. This article is aimed at reviewing mortalities among Lassa fever patients. Methods: The relevant articles for the review were searched and obtained through the PubMed database. Data of interest were confirmed cases of Lassa fever, number of deaths and case fatality rates. Findings: All the studies reviewed were carried out in the Lassa fever endemic zone of West Africa. The case fatality rates in Lassa fever ranged from 24% to 61%, with a mean of 36%. More cases of Lassa fever and more deaths occurred during Lassa fever outbreaks. Patient’s age, co-existing medical conditions as well as complications arising from Lassa virus infection were the determinant factors for patients’ survival. Conclusion: The case fatality rate in Lassa fever was very high among hospitalized patients. Timely therapeutic intervention, infection prevention and control measures and well-coordinated response during Lassa fever outbreaks are necessary for favourable outcomes in Lassa fever management.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Mortality Among Lassa Fever Patients: A Systematic Review
    AU  - Peter Ekpunobi Chime
    AU  - Ethel Nkechi Chime
    AU  - Uzoma Chukwunonso Okechukwu
    Y1  - 2021/03/26
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20210902.15
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajim.20210902.15
    T2  - American Journal of Internal Medicine
    JF  - American Journal of Internal Medicine
    JO  - American Journal of Internal Medicine
    SP  - 87
    EP  - 90
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-4324
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajim.20210902.15
    AB  - Background: Lassa fever is a disease of public health importance because of its morbidity and associated mortality and also because of its potential for residual morbidity such as hearing loss and social stigma. Knowledge of the mortality among Lassa fever patients is one way of assessing the effectiveness of the current strategies employed in Lassa fever management. This article is aimed at reviewing mortalities among Lassa fever patients. Methods: The relevant articles for the review were searched and obtained through the PubMed database. Data of interest were confirmed cases of Lassa fever, number of deaths and case fatality rates. Findings: All the studies reviewed were carried out in the Lassa fever endemic zone of West Africa. The case fatality rates in Lassa fever ranged from 24% to 61%, with a mean of 36%. More cases of Lassa fever and more deaths occurred during Lassa fever outbreaks. Patient’s age, co-existing medical conditions as well as complications arising from Lassa virus infection were the determinant factors for patients’ survival. Conclusion: The case fatality rate in Lassa fever was very high among hospitalized patients. Timely therapeutic intervention, infection prevention and control measures and well-coordinated response during Lassa fever outbreaks are necessary for favourable outcomes in Lassa fever management.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

  • Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

  • Department of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

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