Ebola is a disease caused by a deadly viral infection, which can cause fever, diarrhea, and bleeding in the sufferer's body. Only 10% of Ebola sufferers survive infection with this virus, but the disease is rare.
So far, there have been no cases of Ebola in Indonesia. However, it is still necessary to be vigilant and take steps to prevent this disease that is endemic on the African continent. One of them is by maintaining cleanliness and implementing a healthy lifestyle every day.
Ebola transmission
The spread of the Ebola virus is thought to have originated from interactions between humans and infected animals, such as bats, monkeys, or chimpanzees. Since then, transmission of the virus began to occur between humans. The patient's blood or body fluids can enter another person's body through cuts to the skin or the lining of the nose, mouth, and rectum. Body fluids in question are saliva, vomit, sweat, breast milk, urine, feces, and semen.
The Ebola virus can also be transmitted through contact with objects that have been contaminated by the patient's body fluids, such as clothing, sheets, bandages, and syringes. However, Ebola is not transmitted through the air, or through mosquito bites. People with Ebola also cannot transmit the virus to others until symptoms of the disease appear.
There are several factors that put a person at risk for the Ebola virus, namely:
- Travel to countries that have cases of Ebola, such as Sudan, Congo, Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.
- medical officer, risk of infection if you do not wear protective clothing when treating Ebola patients.
- Family members who live with the patient, risk of infection when caring for patients
- animal researcher, are at risk of being infected with the Ebola virus, especially when conducting research on primates imported from Africa.
- Preparing for the funeral of an Ebola victim. The bodies of Ebola sufferers are still at risk of transmitting. The funeral process should be left to parties who have been specially trained to handle the bodies of Ebola sufferers.
Symptoms of Ebola
Early symptoms of Ebola are fever, headache, chills, muscle and joint pain, and feeling weak. These early symptoms appear within 2-21 days after contact with the patient. Over time, the symptoms felt will get worse, including:
- A skin rash appears.
- Red eye.
- Sore throat.
- Chest pain.
- Gastric pains.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Diarrhea, may be accompanied by blood.
- Drastic weight loss.
- Bleeding through the mouth, nose, eyes, or ears.
Transmission of the Ebola virus occurs very quickly and is deadly. If you or your family members experience these symptoms, immediately visit the nearest hospital to undergo an examination and get treatment.
Ebola diagnosis
Ebola is a disease that is difficult to detect because the symptoms that appear are almost similar to other infectious diseases, such as flu, malaria, or typhus. In diagnosing Ebola, the doctor will perform a blood test to detect antibodies formed by the body in response to the Ebola virus. Blood tests are also done to see which body functions are affected by Ebola, such as:
- Blood cell count
- Liver function
- Blood clotting function
If it is suspected that he is infected with the Ebola virus, the patient will undergo intensive care in a hospital isolation room to prevent the spread of the virus.
Ebola Treatment
The treatment steps taken are only aimed at controlling symptoms and helping the patient's immune system to fight the virus. This is because the drug to treat the Ebola virus has not been found until now. Some of the supporting treatment measures that can be taken are:
- Fluid infusion to prevent dehydration.
- High blood pressure medication to lower blood pressure.
- Supplemental oxygen to maintain the flow of oxygen throughout the body.
- Blood transfusions, if there is lack of blood (anaemia).
Patients with Ebola will undergo a recovery period for several months, until the virus is gone. During the recovery period, the patient will experience:
- Hair loss
- Jaundice
- Nervous disorders
- Excessive fatigue
- Inflammation of the eyes and testicles
The patient's recovery will depend on the immune system, the speed with which treatment is administered, and the response to treatment. Patients who recover will be immune to this virus for approximately 10 years.
Ebola Complications
Each patient has a different immune system response to the Ebola virus. Some sufferers can recover from Ebola without complications, but some can develop life-threatening conditions, such as:
- Seizures
- Coma
- Heavy bleeding
- Shock
- Failure of the functioning of the body's organs
Ebola Prevention
A vaccine to prevent Ebola has not been found to date. The best way to prevent Ebola is to avoid traveling to countries or regions with a history of Ebola. However, if you plan to travel to a country that has cases of Ebola, there are several steps you can take, namely:
- Keep your hands clean by washing your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid direct contact with people who have a fever and are suspected of having Ebola symptoms.
- Avoid touching objects that have been contaminated with blood or body fluids of an Ebola patient
- Avoid direct contact with bats and other primates that have the potential to transmit the virus, including their blood, feces, and flesh.
- Avoid hospitals where Ebola patients are being treated.
- Immediately consult a doctor after returning from the area, to detect possible Ebola symptoms.
Especially for medical staff, there are several preventive steps that can be taken to minimize the risk of transmission of the Ebola virus, namely:
- Use personal protective equipment, including protective clothing (apron), masks, gloves, and eye protection, when around people with Ebola.
- Be careful when taking blood or body fluid samples, and placing an IV or catheter in
- Always wash your hands, especially after touching the patient or objects around the patient.
- Immediately dispose of single-use medical equipment, such as syringes, to the designated place.
- Avoid direct contact with the body of an Ebola patient.