Korean J Blood Transfus.  2018 Aug;29(2):117-129. 10.17945/kjbt.2018.29.2.117.

Strategies Against Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Increasing in Korea

• Yoo JR
• Heo ST

• KMID: 2435670
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17945/kjbt.2018.29.2.117

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne infectious disease that is caused by the genus phlebovirus in the family Bunyaviridae. The syndrome is characterized by fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. The number of reported cases and deaths in endemic areas, such as China and Japan, has increased each year. Since the first SFTS patient was identified in 2013, the number of cases have also been increasing every year in South Korea and the disease is posing a great public health concern. The number of patients is increasing and there is a high mortality rate, but there is no established treatment that has proven to be effective. The purpose of this review was to elucidate the various treatment modalities, such as plasma exchange, antiviral agents, e.g. ribavirin, high-dose steroids, and interferon.

Keyword

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome; Management; Plasma exchange

MeSH Terms

Antiviral Agents
Bunyaviridae
China
Communicable Diseases
Fever*
Humans
Interferons
Japan
Korea*
Mortality
Neutropenia
Phlebovirus
Plasma Exchange
Public Health
Ribavirin
Steroids
Thrombocytopenia*
Antiviral Agents
Interferons
Ribavirin
Steroids