key features of SFTS are high fever and a low platelet count
illness begins with a non-specific, viraemic prodrome, which is often flu-like and associated with fever
gastrointestinal disturbances may also be present, including abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea
prodrome lasts for around 7 days
incubation period is 7 to 14 days, typically around 9 days
appears to be a spectrum of disease, with some patients only having a mild illness, which resolves spontaneously.In those who have progressive disease, severe illness typically develops in the second week
in those who survive severe illness, signs of recovery usually emerge around days 8 to 11 of illness, accompanied by a decrease in blood viral load and recovery of the platelet count
in fatal cases, high-level viraemia and thrombocytopaenia persist or worsen; often associated with increasing blood levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).
reported complications include acute kidney injury, myocarditis, haemorrhage (including disseminated intravascular haemorrhage), meningioencephalitis, haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and multi-organ dysfunction
Reference:
Public Health England (April 2021). Severe fever with thrombocytopaenia syndrome (SFTS): epidemiology, outbreaks and guidance
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