The Ebola Virus and Hair Loss

Currently dominating headlines, the Ebola outbreak in Liberia has governments across the world concerned about the potential harm should the virus spread further afield.

The virus is known to cause a severe (and often fatal) haemorrhagic fever. The average mortality rate of the current outbreak is estimated at 55%, with those who survive experiencing a number of longer-term effects, which sometimes include hair loss.

Ebola and its symptoms

Ebola initially presents with symptoms not unlike malaria. People infected by the virus may experience a fever, sore throat and muscle pain.

As the infection progresses the patient will begin to experience vomiting, diarrhoea and a rash before their internal organs start to fail. Eventually the infection leads to internal and external bleeding which will result in death if the patient’s body is unable to successfully fight the infection.

People who do survive an Ebola infection experience a number of longer term side effects. Muscle and joint pains are both frequently reported by survivors, as are eye problems, up to and including blindness.

Another common longer-term effect is hair loss which has been reported to affect both male and female patients recovering from Ebola. The loss of hair from Ebola tends to be of the scarring kind, so although regrowth should occur as the individual recovers, there may be some resulting damage that needs professional attention.

Hair loss and other illnesses

Hair loss is a relatively common side effect of a number of serious medical conditions. The hair loss condition Telogen Effluvium has been found to be closely related to severe emotional stress, surgery and certain medications.

Alopecia Areata is another condition thought to have links to illness. Viral infections like Ebola could be responsible for triggering the condition which sees hair follicles in the scalp prematurely entering a “resting” phase which then causes the attached hairs to fall out.

Related stories: