When assessing a patient with suspected Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), key clinical features to consider include an acute onset of fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and weakness, often accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting. These symptoms typically develop within 2 to 21 days after exposure. Additionally, patients may present with abdominal pain, unexplained bleeding or bruising, and conjunctival injection. The progression to multi-organ dysfunction, including liver and kidney impairment, is also a critical feature to monitor. Early recognition of these signs is essential for prompt isolation and management to prevent transmission. In children, presentations may be similar but can include more pronounced gastrointestinal symptoms and rapid deterioration. The clinical picture is often nonspecific initially, overlapping with other febrile illnesses, so a thorough travel and exposure history is vital to raise suspicion of EVD. Laboratory confirmation is required for diagnosis, but clinical suspicion should guide early infection control measures NICE CG84 Olupot-Olupot 2015Galvin et al. 2015.
Key References
- CG84 - Diarrhoea and vomiting caused by gastroenteritis in under 5s: diagnosis and management
- NG143 - Fever in under 5s: assessment and initial management
- NG126 - Ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage: diagnosis and initial management
- (Olupot-Olupot, 2015): Ebola in children: epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and outcomes.
- (Galvin et al., 2015): Ebola virus disease: review and implications for dentistry in Ireland.