Overview

Viral hemorrhagic (hem-uh-RAJ-ik) fevers are infectious diseases that can cause severe, life-threatening illness. They can damage the walls of tiny blood vessels, making them leak, and can hamper the blood’s ability to clot. The resulting internal bleeding is usually not life-threatening, but the diseases can be.

Some viral hemorrhagic fevers include:

• Dengue
• Ebola
• Lassa
• Marburg
• Yellow fever

These diseases most commonly occur in tropical areas. In the United States, people who get them usually have recently traveled to one of those areas.

There’s no cure for viral hemorrhagic fevers. There are vaccines for only a few types. Until additional vaccines are developed, the best approach is prevention.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of viral hemorrhagic fevers vary by disease. In general, early signs and symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Fatigue, weakness or general feeling of being unwell
• Dizziness
• Muscle, bone or joint aches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea

Symptoms that can become life-threatening

More-severe symptoms include:

• Bleeding under the skin, in internal organs, or from the mouth, eyes or ears
• Nervous system malfunctions
• Coma
• Delirium
• Kidney failure
• Respiratory failure
• Liver failure

When to see a doctor

The best time to see a doctor is before you travel to a developing country to ensure that you’ve received any available vaccinations and pre-travel advice for staying healthy.

If you develop signs and symptoms once you return home, talk to a doctor, preferably one trained in international medicine or infectious diseases. Tell your doctor where you’ve traveled.

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