title: [Severe presentations of Rift Valley Fever in Madagascar].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors describe clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of severe presentations of Rift valley fever (RVF) during the 2008 epidemic in Madagascar.
  
  
  METHODS
  The diagnosis was confirmed by RVF virus polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or detection of specifics antibodies by Elisa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen cases of severe RVF were recorded. The sex-ratio was 7/1 and median age was 32 years (20/59 years). The risk factors of infection were: contact with infected animals or their meat (n=8), and travelling to a risk area (n=2). Hemorrhagic, neurological, and ocular manifestations were observed respectively in 87.5%, 43.8% and 6.3% of cases. All patients who died (n=4) presented with a hemorrhagic form of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hemorrhagic form was the most frequent presentation of RVF and was responsible for a high level of mortality. Epidemiologic surveillance must be implemented.
authors.affiliation: Service des maladies infectieuses, hôpital Joseph-Raseta, CHU d'Antananarivo, 101, Antananarivo, Madagascar. rakotoarivelo.rivo@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rakotoarivelo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrianasolo
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Razafimahefa
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Randremandranto Razafimbelo
authors.forename: M J D
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Randria
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle / Q000821:virology; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology; D008270:Madagascar / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000821:virology; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012173:Retinitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012307:Risk Factors; D014195:Travel; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral