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A person
infected with Ebola is not considered contagious until symptoms appear.
Due to
the virulent nature of the disease, it is highly unlikely that someone
with Ebola symptoms will seek dental care when they are severely ill.
However,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the ADA
Division of Science, dental professionals are advised to take a medical
history, including a travel history from their patients with symptoms in
which a viral infection is suspected.
Any
person
within 21 days of returning from the West African countries Liberia,
Sierra Leone and Guinea may be at risk of having contacted persons
infected
with Ebola and may not exhibit symptoms. If this is the case, dental
professionals are advised to delay routine dental care of the patient
until 21
days have elapsed from their trip. Palliative care for serious oral
health conditions, dental infections and pain can be provided if
necessary after
consulting with the patient’s physician and conforming to standard
precautions and physical barriers.
An
elevated temperature (fever) is often a consequence of infection, but
Ebola is not the only infection that may have similar signs and
symptoms. The
most common signs and symptoms of Ebola infection are:
- fever (greater than 38.6°C
or 101.5°F) and severe headache
- muscle pain
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- stomach pain or unexplained bleeding or bruising
You are advised not to treat dental patients if they have these
signs and symptoms for Ebola. If a patient is feeling feverish and
their travel
history indicates they may be at risk of Ebola, dental professionals
and staff in contact with the patient should:
- immediately protect themselves by using standard precautions with physical barriers (gowns, masks, face protection, and
gloves)
- immediately call 911 on behalf of the patient
- notify the appropriate state
or local health department authorities
- ask
the health department to provide you and your staff with the most
up-to-date guidance on removing and disposing of potentially
contaminated materials and equipment, including the physical barriers.
The Ebola virus is spread through direct contact
(through broken skin or mucous membranes)
with blood and body fluids (urine, feces, saliva, vomit and semen) of a
person who is sick with Ebola, or with objects (like needles) that
have been
contaminated with the virus. Ebola is not spread through the air or by
water or, in general, by food. Again, there is no reported risk of
transmission of Ebola from asymptomatic infected patients.
Information and resources on Ebola are posted on the
CDC’s website at cdc.gov. A checklist for healthcare providers (PDF) specific to
Ebola is included on the site.
Please visit ADA.org/ebola for continued updates on this important public health
issue. |
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