Which statement about hemorrhagic manifestations in Ebola is accurate?

Which statement about hemorrhagic manifestations in Ebola is accurate?

• A. Hemorrhage occurs in more than 90% of cases
• B. Hemorrhage is never seen in Ebola
• C. Hemorrhage occurs in less than 50% of cases
• D. Hemorrhagic symptoms are the defining feature for all patients

Answer: (C)

In Ebola virus disease, bleeding isn’t universal. While hemorrhagic symptoms can occur, they appear only in a minority of patients and are not the defining feature for everyone. The best-supported statement is that hemorrhage occurs in less than half of cases, reflecting the variable presentation across outbreaks and individuals. Bleeding, when it does happen, can include mucosal bleeding, gum bleeding, oozing from venipuncture sites, and GI bleeding, but many patients never develop hemorrhagic signs and still have severe disease. The other options overstate or misstate the reality: hemorrhage does not occur in more than 90% of cases, it is not never seen, and the hemorrhagic features are not present in all patients.

In Ebola virus disease, bleeding isn’t universal. While hemorrhagic symptoms can occur, they appear only in a minority of patients and are not the defining feature for everyone. The best-supported statement is that hemorrhage occurs in less than half of cases, reflecting the variable presentation across outbreaks and individuals. Bleeding, when it does happen, can include mucosal bleeding, gum bleeding, oozing from venipuncture sites, and GI bleeding, but many patients never develop hemorrhagic signs and still have severe disease. The other options overstate or misstate the reality: hemorrhage does not occur in more than 90% of cases, it is not never seen, and the hemorrhagic features are not present in all patients.