Patients with suspected Lassa fever in London during 1984: problems in their management at St Thomas's Hospital

During 1984, 23 patients in whom a diagnosis of viral haemorrhagic fever was considered presented to the accident and emergency department at St Thomas's Hospital. There were no confirmed cases of viral haemorrhagic fever. Nine patients were transferred to Coppett's Wood Hospital, the near...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ 1985-11, Vol.291 (6508), p.1554-1555
Main Authors: Tilzey, A J, Webster, M, Banatvala, J E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Diagnosis, Differential
Emergency departments
Emergency Service, Hospital - organization & administration
For Debate
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome
Hospital admissions
Hospital emergency rooms
Hospital units
Hospital Units - organization & administration
Hospitals, Special
Humans
Infections
Infectious diseases
Lassa fever
Lassa Fever - diagnosis
Lassa Fever - therapy
Malaria
Malaria - diagnosis
Patient Isolation
Teaching hospitals
Time Factors
Travel
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Summary:During 1984, 23 patients in whom a diagnosis of viral haemorrhagic fever was considered presented to the accident and emergency department at St Thomas's Hospital. There were no confirmed cases of viral haemorrhagic fever. Nine patients were transferred to Coppett's Wood Hospital, the nearest specially designated high security isolation unit. Malaria was the final diagnosis in 14, and in six this diagnosis was confirmed only after examining repeated smears at Coppett's Wood Hospital. Transferral of patients to such units is time consuming, expensive, and often unnecessary. Specially designated isolation units in district general hospitals and all teaching hospitals would simplify and improve the care not only of patients with a possible viral haemorrhagic fever but also patients with tuberculosis, multiply resistant staphylococcal infections, and viral infections that may be hazardous if transmitted to immunocompromised patients.
ISSN:0267-0623
0959-8138
1468-5833
DOI:10.1136/bmj.291.6508.1554