Clinical Features And Treatment Outcomes Of Lassa FeverAmong Patients In ATertiary Health Facility In Benue State, Nigeria: ARetrospective Study

Abstract

There is a silent predator in the heart of West Africa that lurks in the shadows of rural communities, periodically emerging to wreak havoc on human lives and healthcare systems. This formidable foe is Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic illness that has become synonymous with fear and urgency in Nigeria's public health landscape. This study aimed at assessing the clinical features and treatment outcomes of Lassa Fever among Patients in a Tertiary Health Facility in Benue State, Nigeria. This was a retrospective, descriptive hospital-based research encompassing January 2022 to March 2024. Medical records of those admitted for treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital were reviewed. The relevant data was coded and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23. Data obtained showed that 219 persons were hospitalized for suspected or probable Lassa fever throughout the study period while 85 of them were confirmed positive for Lassa fever giving an incidence rate of 38.8%. Findings from the study showed that there were 105(47.9%) males and 114 (52.1%) females. The treatment outcome showed that 78(35.6%) survived and were discharged, 108(49.3%) were referred to other facilities for dialysis and 33 (15.1%) patients died, giving a mortality rate of 15.1%. The common clinical features were abnormal bleeding, myalgia, retrosternal pain, cough, abdominal pain, malaise, nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, and sore throat. Laboratory indices showed that 110 (50.2%) of them had impaired liver function while 109 (49.8%) showed normal liver function. The RT-PCR for Lassa fever virus was positive in 85(38.8%) whereas 85(38.4%) of the patients had haematuria, 61(27.9%) of them had proteinuria and 67(30.6%) had both haematuria and proteinuria on urinalysis.