Ebola virus disease

Other Names:

Summary

Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF), caused by Ebola virus, is a severe viral hemorrhagic disease characterized by initial fever and malaise followed by gastrointestinal symptoms, bleeding, shock, and multi-organ system failure.

Estimated Number of People with this Disease

In the U.S. there may be between

1 to 300

What Information Does GARD Have For This Disease?

Many rare diseases have limited information. Currently GARD is able to provide the following information for this disease:

*Data may be currently unavailable to GARD at this time.

When do symptoms of this disease begin?

The most common ages for symptoms of a disease to begin is called age of onset. Age of onset can vary for different diseases and may be used by a doctor to determine the diagnosis. For some diseases, symptoms may begin in a single age range or several age ranges. For other diseases, symptoms may begin any time during a person's life.

Prenatal

Before Birth

Newborn

Birth-4 weeks

Infant

1-23 months

Child

2-11 years

Adolescent

12-18 years

Adult

19-65 years

Older Adult

65+ years

The common ages for symptoms to begin in this disease are shown above by the colored icon(s).

These symptoms may be different from person to person. Some people may have more symptoms than others and symptoms can range from mild to severe. This list does not include every symptom.
This disease might cause these symptoms:

Digestive System

26 Symptoms

Tile View

List View

The digestive system is made up of the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. Common symptoms of problems in the digestive system include blood in the stool, changes in bowel habits, severe abdominal pain, unintentional weight loss, or heartburn. Diseases affecting the digestive system may be diagnosed and treated by a gastroenterologist (GI specialist).

Medical Term

Abdominal pain

Frequency: Frequent

Description

An unpleasant sensation characterized by physical discomfort (such as pricking, throbbing, or aching) and perceived to originate in the abdomen.

Synonym

Upset stomach

26 Symptoms

This section is currently in development.

Next Steps

Talking with the Medical Team

Good communication between the patient, family, and medical team can lead to an accurate diagnosis. In addition, health care decisions can be made together which improves the patient’s well-being and quality of life.

Describing Symptoms

Describe details about the symptoms. Because there may be many different causes for a single symptom, it is best not to make a conclusion about the diagnosis. The detailed descriptions help the medical provider determine the correct diagnosis.

To help describe a symptom:

Use a smartphone or a notebook to record each symptom before the appointment
Describe each symptom by answering the following questions:
- When did the symptom start?
- How often does it happen?
- Does anything make it better or worse?
Tell the medical team whether any symptoms affect daily activities

Preparing for the First Visit

Working with a medical team to find a diagnosis can be a long process that will require more than one appointment. Make better health decisions by being prepared for the first visit with each member of the medical team.

Make informed decisions about health care:

Prepare a list of questions and concerns before the appointment
List the most important questions first, not all questions may be answered in the first visit
Ask questions about symptoms, possible diagnoses, tests, and treatment options

For future appointments:

Discuss what was not addressed at the last visit
Discuss changes in the quality of life for the patient, family, and caregivers
Discuss health goals and other issues in the patient’s and family’s life that may affect the health care decisions

Take notes during the appointments to help remember what was discussed.

Next: Diagnosis & Treatment

Last Updated: Nov. 8, 2021