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Treatment and recovery from ebola

Ebola virus causes Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever or Ebola. The disease caused by the virus is often fatal. The virus gets spread by direct contact with bodily fluids or blood of an infected person or infected animal. The symptoms of the disease are not very clear and the disease initially feels like flu. The symptoms include stomach pain, muscle aches, vomit, diarrhea, unexplained bleeding or bruising and fatigue.

As of now, there is no known medication or vaccine which is effective. The scientists are still in the early stages of understanding how the infection caused by Ebola virus can be treated. There are a number of experimental treatments that are being considered for use in cases of Ebola outbreaks. The experimental treatments are under clinical trials.
As there is no cure for Ebola and research is still going on for finding one, the experimental treatment carried out by the doctors include a serum that is said to destroy the infected cells.
Following approaches are taken by the doctors to manage the symptoms of Ebola:
  • Providing intravenous fluids and balancing electrolytes
  • Maintaining Oxygen status
  • Maintaining blood pressure by blood pressure medication
  • Blood transfusions
  • Treatment for other infections.
The recovery from Ebola depends mainly upon two factors:
  • Good supportive care provided to the patient by the healthcare centers
  • The immune response of the patient
People who have recovered from the Ebola infection develop antibodies to the infection that may last longer than ten years. It is still unknown whether a person who has recovered from the infection is free from the risk of getting the infection again for the lifetime or not. It is also unclear if a recovered person can get infected by a different species of Ebola even after developing antibodies towards the disease.
Ebola can leave long lasting complications like joint and vision problems.
Prevention is better than cure, hence it is advised to avoid getting in direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person and maintain proper hygiene.

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