Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Lassa fever physical examination
Introduction
Synonyms and keywords: Lassa hemorrhagic fever; LHF
Overview
Overview
Persistent, high-grade fever is the most common sign on physical examination. Other common signs on physical examination include tachycardia, tachypnea, conjunctival injection, abdominal/chest tenderness, pharyngitis with tonsillar exudates, and hepatosplenomegaly.
Physical Examination
Physical Examination
General Appearance
- In distress
- Sick-looking
Vital Signs
- Persistent, high-grade fever
- Tachycardia or relative bradycardia
- Hypotension
- Tachypnea
Skin
- Uncontrolled bleeding from venipuncture sites
- Jaundice
HEENT and Neck
- Conjunctival injection
- Conjunctival hemorrhage
- Nasal flaring
- Epistaxis
- Nasal discharge
- Hearing impairment (abnormal Renne and Weber tests)
- Mucosal hyperemia of the oral cavity
- Pharyngitis with exudation
- Cervical lymphadenopathy
Thoracic
- Paradoxical breathing
- Chest tenderness
Abdomen
- Abdominal tenderness
- Abdominal distention
- Tender hepatomegaly
- Splenomegaly
- Bowel sounds may be hyperactive (bleeding) or hypoactive (ileus)
Extremities
- Extremity edema
Neurologic
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ammu Susheela, M.D. [2]