Epidemiological and clinical description of Lassa fever in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The epidemiological, clinical and laboratory description, and treatment outcome of Lassa Fever (LF) in Jos, Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective study from January 2012 -February 2013. Data analyzed included patients' demographics and clinical features. Main laboratory variable of interest was LF polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Categorical variables were compared using Chi square test or Fisher's exact test. Continuous variableswere expressed as mean ± standard deviation or as median with range. Means were compared by student's t test or Mann-Whitney U test. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Six (40%) had confirmed LF by PCR while nine(60%) had negative PCR results. Mean age (years) was 31.0 ± 10.2 for confirmed cases compared with 22.0 ± 17.9 for unconfirmed cases (p=0.45). Two (33.3%) males and four (66.7%) females were confirmed cases compared with 5 (71.4%) males and 4 (50%) females that were unconfirmed cases (p=0.38). Median, with range, duration from onset of symptoms to presentation at hospital was 8 (4-11) days in confirmed cases compared with 4 (1-7) days in unconfirmed cases (p=0.01). Select findings among confirmed cases were as follow: rural/sub-urban residence 6 (100%); p= 0.01, fever 6 (100%), hemorrhagic manifestations 5 (83.3%), cough 4 (66.7%), sore throat 2 (33.3%), proteinuria 2 (33.3%), retrosternal pain 1 (16.7%). None of those with confirmed LF received ribavirin within 6 days of illness and the case fatality ratio was 83.3%. Conclusion: LF is lethal and clinical diagnosis is unreliable. Laboratory testing should be made widely available to guide early diagnosis and treatment.

 Keywords: Clinical Features, Epidemiology, Laboratory

Description, Lassa, Nigeria  High Med Res J 2013;13:3-7