What are hemorrhagic fevers?
Hemorrhagic fevers are serious viral infections Overview of Viral Infections A virus is a tiny living organism. Viruses are so small they can be seen only with the most powerful microscopes. That's why they're called microorganisms (micro means very small). Other common... read more that cause fever and bleeding from your mouth, nose, or organs inside your body. These infections can be deadly.
You can get these infections by touching infected people, animals, or insects, or their body fluids, such as their saliva, urine, droppings, or blood
Doctors can tell if you have hemorrhagic fever by doing blood tests
No medicine can cure hemorrhagic fevers, so doctors treat your symptoms, give you fluids, and make sure your organs are working well
Sometimes, they'll try antiviral medicines
What causes hemorrhagic fevers?
Hemorrhagic fevers are caused by viruses. Hemorrhagic fevers are a group of viral infections including:
Hantavirus Hantavirus Infection Hantavirus is a viral infection spread by the urine and droppings of mice and rats. Hantavirus can cause life-threatening lung and kidney infections. You can get hantavirus by breathing air... read more , in the United States, Central and South America, Europe, and Korea
What are the symptoms of hemorrhagic fevers?
These viruses make the blood vessels in your body leak, causing:
Bleeding under your skin and from your mouth, nose, or organs
In addition to bleeding, other symptoms include:
Fever
Muscle and body aches
Fatigue and weakness
When severe, coma, shock Shock Shock is a life-threatening condition in which blood flow to the organs is low, decreasing delivery of oxygen and thus causing organ damage and sometimes death. Blood pressure is usually low... read more , and failure of the lungs, liver and kidneys
