Clinical presentation and course of Lassa fever in Pakistani troops serving in United Nations' Mission in Liberia

ABSTRACT

To document clinical presentation and course of Lassa fever in Pakistani troops serving in United Nations' Mission in Liberia [UNMIL]. Case series. Pak Level-II Hospital Tubmanburg, Liberia; over a period of four months from January 2006 to April 2006. Pakistani soldiers who presented with fever and later were confirmed to be suffering from Lassa fever by Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR] test were included in the study. A total of 6 patients were confirmed to be suffering from Lassa fever. Three cases also had concomitant Falciparum malaria. Three cases presented with symptoms of upper respiratory infection, three presented with gastrointestinal symptoms and two cases with cervical lymphadonopathy. Two cases died while four recovered without any sequelae. Lassa fever presents with nonspecific signs and symptoms. In endemic areas, Lassa fever should be suspected in any patient who presents with fever and does not respond to antimalarials and broadspectrum antibiotics within a few days