Title: The Critically Ill Patient with Ebola Virus Disease<br/>Author: Michael Winters<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/141/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><p>
        <u><strong>The Critically Ill Patient with Ebola Virus Disease</strong></u></p>
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                The current outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is the largest ever recorded and has been declared "a public health emergency of international concern" by the WHO.</li>
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                Pearls regarding critically ill patients within the current EVD outbreak include:
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                                Clinical Features
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                                                Tachycardia, tachypnea, oliguria, and alterations in mental status are common and generally seen about 7-12 days after symptom onset.</li>
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                                                Shock is often due to profound hypovolemia from GI losses.</li>
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                                                Hemorrhage is a late finding and most often manifests as lower GIB.</li>
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                                Labs
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                                                Common lab abnormalities include hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypoalbuminemia, and lactic acidosis.</li>
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                                Treatment
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                                                The mainstay of treatment is aggressive fluid resuscitation and electrolyte repletion (especially potassium).</li>
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                                                Blood products can be administered for those with coagulopathy and hemorrhage.</li>
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                                                Empiric antibiotics and antimalarial medications should be considered while awaiting confirmatory testing for EVD.</li>
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<fieldset><legend>References</legend>

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        Fowler RA, et al. Caring for Critically Ill Patients with Ebola Virus Disease. <em>Am J Resp Crit Care Med</em> 2014; 190:733-37.</p>
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