How is Marburg hemorrhagic fever treated?
Key points
- However, supportive hospital therapy should be utilized.
- Recovery from Marburg hemorrhagic fever may be prolonged and accompanied by orchititis, recurrent hepatitis, transverse myelitis or uvetis.
- The case-fatality rate for Marburg hemorrhagic fever is between 23-25%.
- Sometimes treatment also has used transfusion of fresh-frozen plasma and other preparations to replace the blood proteins important in clotting.
A specific treatment for this disease is unknown. However, supportive hospital therapy should be utilized. This includes balancing the patient's fluids and electrolytes, maintaining their oxygen status and blood pressure, replacing lost blood and clotting factors and treating them for any complicating infections.
Sometimes treatment also has used transfusion of fresh-frozen plasma and other preparations to replace the blood proteins important in clotting. One controversial treatment is the use of heparin (which blocks clotting) to prevent the consumption of clotting factors. Some researchers believe the consumption of clotting factors is part of the disease process.
Are there complications after recovery?
Recovery from Marburg hemorrhagic fever may be prolonged and accompanied by orchititis, recurrent hepatitis, transverse myelitis or uvetis. Other possible complications include inflammation of the testis, spinal cord, eye, parotid gland, or by prolonged hepatitis.
Is the disease ever fatal?
Yes. The case-fatality rate for Marburg hemorrhagic fever is between 23-25%.
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
Explore health topics
More in this topic
Infections, HIV & STIs →
NewsU.S. vaccine works against Lassa fever in monkeys
A genetically engineered virus may offer the first effective vaccine against Lassa fever, a sometimes deadly hemorrhagic fever common in West Africa, U.S. and Canadian scientists said on Monday. The vaccine successfully…
29 June 2005
NewsMarburg orphans hundreds of Angolan children
Angola's deadly Marburg outbreak has left hundreds of children orphaned and traumatised after seeing dying parents rushed away or their homes destroyed in attempts to stem the spread of the deadly virus, according to…
9 June 2005
NewsVaccines show promise for Marburg, Ebola viruses
Canadian and U.S. scientists have developed vaccines that protect monkeys from the deadly Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever and Ebola viruses and show promise for humans, according to a news study published in the journal…
