A common course of illness begins with an abrupt onset of fever, myalgia, cutaneous flushing, and conjunctival suffusion. Treatment is primarily supportive, except that Lassa fever, South American HFs, and possibly Crimean-Congo HF and Rift Valley HF may be treated with a slow infusion of IV ribavirin. Treatment is with amphotericin B initially, and itraconazole or fluconazole are used for maintenance therapy. Heterosexual transmission is common in these areas. Incubation is 2-8 weeks.
Entry points are sometimes pruritic.
Respiratory symptoms occur in a few patients. Infants and children may experience severe anemia, protein deficiency, and developmental delays. Treatment is with mebendazole, albendazole, or pyrantel pamoate. None of these are safe in pregnancy and neither mebendazole nor albendazole should be given to children under 1 year of age. The anemia should be treated with ferrous sulfate.