Merck Manual

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Hemorrhagic Fevers Overview

By

Thomas M. Yuill

, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Reviewed/Revised Jun 2023
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Hemorrhagic fevers are serious viral infections characterized by bleeding (hemorrhage).

  • Hemorrhagic fevers can be caused by many different types of virus.

  • Depending on the type of virus, these infections may be spread through contact with the skin or body fluids of an infected person, through the droppings or urine of infected rodents, or through insect bites or when contaminated food is eaten.

  • Symptoms may include fever, muscle and body aches, headache, and vomiting, as well as bleeding from the mouth, nose, or internal organs.

  • To confirm the diagnosis, doctors do blood tests or sometimes examine infected tissue under a microscope.

  • Treatment includes giving fluids and other treatments to maintain body functions.

  • Antiviral medications are effective against some hemorrhagic fever viruses but not against all of them.

Several groups of viruses can cause fever and other symptoms that are accompanied by severe bleeding (hemorrhagic fever).

The viruses most often associated with hemorrhagic fever are

Bleeding occurs because the viruses make the blood vessels leak. These infections are often fatal.

Some of these viruses naturally reside in animals. Some are spread by the bite of a tick or mosquito.

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