Marburg hemorrhagic fever in Durba and Watsa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: clinical documentation, features of illness, and treatment.
The objective of the present study was to describe day of onset and duration of symptoms of Marburg hemorrhagic fever (MHF), to summarize the treatments applied, and to assess the quality of clinical documentation. Surveillance and clinical records of 77 patients with MHF cases were reviewed. Initial symptoms included fever, headache, general pain, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia (median day of onset, day 1-2), followed by hemorrhagic manifestations (day 5-8+), and terminal symptoms included confusion, agitation, coma, anuria, and shock. Treatment in isolation wards was acceptable, but the quality of clinical documentation was unsatisfactory. Improved clinical documentation is necessary for a basic evaluation of supportive treatment.
Colebunders
Robert
R
Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, B-2000, Belgium. bcoleb@itg.be
Tshomba
Antoine
A
Van Kerkhove
Maria D
MD
Bausch
Daniel G
DG
Campbell
Pat
P
Libande
Modeste
M
Pirard
Patricia
P
Tshioko
Florimond
F
Mardel
Simon
S
Mulangu
Sabue
S
Sleurs
Hilde
H
Rollin
Pierre E
PE
Muyembe-Tamfum
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Jeffs
Benjamin
B
Borchert
Matthias
M
D000818:Animals; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004282:Documentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008379:Marburg Virus Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D029024:Marburgvirus; D008499:Medical Records; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate