An Examination of the Health and Social Conditions of Ebola Survivors

The long-term clinical and social effects of Ebola infection are still unknown.A recent study followed a medical follow-up of people who survived HIV infection, and 802 people ( adults and children) were included in the study.

A look at the health and social conditions of Ebola survivors
The long-term clinical and social effects of Ebola virus infection are unknown: in November 2014, less of an adverse event occurred. one year after the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, with the National Institute of Sustainable Development (IRD) and the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Donka University Hospital Conakry in Guinea, a medical follow-up was organized for people who survived HIV infection as part of a large research group. March 2015.

Results of follow-up by researchers
The results of the follow-up show that on average one year after the initial period of hospitalization for Ebola patients, 3 out of 4 survivors still report problems 40% Fatigue or fever, 38% suffer from muscle pain, 22% abdominal pain, 18% severe visual impairment can sometimes lead to blindness, 17% depression, and this study led to researchers identify what they call "Post Ebola Syndrome", and published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

There is little data on the people who have survived Ebola outbreaks in the past, and because there are very few survivors, the structures are not suitable for research. Emergency and the recent outbreak of Ebola in West Africa has led to an unprecedented number of deaths and to a number of survivors never reached in the past (17,000 survivors) Faced with this situation unprecedented, fundamental medical and research questions have emerged: what are the long-term complications that viruses can cause? What are the psychological and social consequences of survivors? Is there a risk of delayed viral activation? How long does the body last and what is the possibility of sexual transmission? In order to answer all these questions, the research group joined the Guinean health authorities to organize the follow-up of those who survived the infection, and researchers from the International Unit "HIV Research and Development". infectious diseases "created a follow-up group

Among the people who survived the Ebola virus infection in Guinea, the PostEbogui group in March 2015, made up of 802 people (out of 1,270 survivors of the disease). epidemic in Guinea), entered this multidisciplinary study an average of one year after the initial infection.

followed a biological, psychological and social monitoring, the viral load was measured 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the entrance of the research group Data were tracked until July 2016. Immunological responses will be monitored on a group of people. In Inserm / ANRS, 45% of the participants were men, the median age was 28, one in five had a child under 18, and one year later, three-quarters Survivors continued to present clinical symptoms. .

Clinical symptoms
40% of patients in the group suffer from so-called symptoms of a general nature (fatigue, fever, loss of appetite), and vision disorders affect 18% of patients (conjunctivitis, visual impairment, blindness,), 38% of patients with musculoskeletal pain (joint pain and muscle weakness), 35% headache, 2% deafness and 22% abdominal pain, explains Eric Delaporte: "Fortunately, these symptoms tend to become less frequent over time and tend to become less acute as the period following the acute stage of infection continues. "Compared to adults, My children have new episodes of long-term fever, but with less pain in adult muscles and bones and ocular problems."

Biological and viral data
26% of survivors were anemic , and the Ebola virus was still present in sperm in 5% of men 1 to 18 months after infection, and these results were published in more detail in the Journal of Diseases Infectious Diseases in May 2016. "The results of this first large group allow us to better describe what we now call a syndrome, "explains Eric."

Psychological and Social Data
After Complications, Medical Complications Continue or Appear After the Stage acute infection, and justify the need for medical follow-up for Ebola patients for at least 18 months after infection. "

Source: Science Daily