Ebola survivors may suffer various illnesses after they recovered from the virus

Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have discovered that a number of people who contracted Ebola have all experienced various health issues months after they recovered. The complications include hair loss, joint pain, and eye problem.

According to Tech Times, the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that patients who recovered from Ebola still suffered from at least one chronic health problem for several months after they were released from the hospital.

The researchers had surveyed eight people who survived from Ebola during 2014, after their discharge from the hospital in the U.S. Some of the Ebola survivors had been released from hospital for four months, while some of them had already discharged for at least seven months.

There are eleven people infected by Ebola virus that were treated in the U.S., with two of them eventually dying from the disease. A ninth Ebola patient was not be included to the study since the patient was still undergoing treatment by the time of the survey.

As reported on Live Science, six of the eight Ebola survivors (75 percent) said that they experienced hair loss, joint pain, and fatigue after they recovered from the disease. Five of them said they had eye problems including pain, discomfort and blurriness. Two of these patients required treatment for eye inflammation.

Six of the survivors said they had psychological or cognitive disorders, such as short-term memory loss, insomnia, depression or anxiety. Three patients experienced abnormal sensations such as tingling or pins and needles, and one patient required treatment for peripheral nerves damage.

According to Web MD, the clinical team leader of the study Dr. Tim Uyeki said that for patients who survived Ebola virus disease, the story does not end with their discharge from hospital, but they may suffer from a wide range of illnesses.

Dr. Uyeki said that the frequency and the duration of symptoms are still unknown, but some of them may be permanent. For example, eye inflammation can lead to permanent eyesight loss if it is untreated.

The study report also reinforces the importance of monitoring and follow-up of survivors of Ebola virus in the U.S. and worldwide to address their medical management and mental health.

However, it is still unknown how long the illnesses will occur. Dr. Uyeki said his team doesn't know if the patients still suffer from these problems, and there has been no follow-up survey performed. The exact reason for the illnesses following Ebola recovery is still unknown.

More researches are needed to answer the questions to better understand the Ebola virus disease and how to prevent and treat the complications following its recovery.