伊波拉病毒到底有多恐怖?
下面這篇文章,是最近的美國醫學雜誌上的文章,在討論,關於美國第一例因為伊波拉病毒死亡案例產生後,對於整個醫療界的影響。
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - "Ebola collateral damage" is a term coined by Dr. Thaim B. Kamara, the Chief of Surgery at Connaught Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He defines it as the disruption of routine patient care by Ebola.
"Since the outbreak took its first victim in our hospital, all elective operations and routine clinics were discontinued," he said. "Because vomiting and abdominal pain are often associated with surgical abdominal problems, patients presenting with these symptoms at the Accident and Emergency Unit risk being sent to the Ebola Isolation Unit. Once there, they cannot be discharged until a negative result is returned or they die from their surgical illness."
這是一篇負責照顧一位伊波拉病毒患者的醫院,的外科部主任醫師所寫的文章。因為伊波拉病毒的主要症狀,就是嚴重的腹痛及嘔吐,但是這卻又是許多腹部急症一定會出現的症狀,因此,所有出現這樣症狀的病人,必須送去隔離單位,直到確認是否是伊波拉患者?但是這樣確有可能會延誤病情及治療,所以不論是院方,或是病人,都不願來這家醫院處理及就醫。