Clinical characteristic analysis of 5 patients with confirmed Ebola virus disease

Abstract

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognoses of patients with confirmed Ebola virus disease(EVD)and to summarize the clinical treatment experience.Methods The epidemiologic history,symptoms,signs,treatment,and prognoses of 5confirmed EVD cases were summarized.And the relationship between clinical features and clinical outcomes was analyzed.Results The 5patients,2 men and 3women,ranged in age from 32-58 years old,with a median age of 46.Three were severe cases when they were admitted while the others were relatively mild.All the patients admitted the exposure history within 21 days before onset of the symptoms,with two patients(one medical staff)from the same transmission chain.The main symptoms included fever,weakness or fatigue,lack of appetite,diarrhea and red eyes,with one patient having gastrointestinal bleeding.The first test of PCR Ebola virus(EBOV)RNA was positive in all the 5cases.They were promptly isolated and treated with antipyretic and fluid replacement therapy.Meanwhile,prevention of complications and treatment of basic diseases were also conducted.Three patients survived at last and the other two died.Conclusion Prompt isolation of the infection source and tracing the contacts can effectively prevent the transmission of EVD.PCR assay is an effective,rapid and simple method to diagnose EVD.Early supporting treatment-centered multimodality therapy can improve the treatment outcome of EVD.