Two Cases of Lassa Fever Successfully Treated with Ribavirin and Adjunct Dexamethasone for Concomitant Infections

Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Oct;28(10):2060-2063. doi: 10.3201/eid2810.220625.

Abstract

Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever treated with supportive care and the broad-spectrum antiviral drug ribavirin. The pathophysiology, especially the role of hyperinflammation, of this disease is unknown. We report successful remission of complicated Lassa fever in 2 patients in Nigeria who received the antiinflammatory agent dexamethasone and standard ribavirin.

Keywords: Lassa fever; Lassa mammarenavirus; Lassa virus; Nigeria; concomitant infections; dexamethasone; ribavirin; viral hemorrhagic fever; viruses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Lassa Fever* / diagnosis
  • Lassa Fever* / drug therapy
  • Lassa virus / genetics
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Ribavirin
  • Dexamethasone