Yellow Fever : Facts, Symptoms, Treatment


Yellow fever is a type of viral disease which can be spread by the bites of certain kinds of mosquitoes. These types of specific mosquitoes and yellow fever diseases are found in areas like Africa and South America located in the tropics and subtropics. The mosquitoes become infected when they bite primates who have the virus.

 

Usually the yellow fever virus will have various range of symptoms. SOme people with yellow fever virus may not have any symptoms. Symptoms of yellow fever virus can be mild like flu symptoms but it can also have severe symptoms which leads to death. You can also have flu-like symptoms associated with aches, severe pains and high fever or you could have a severe form of bleeding and also develop liver and kidney diseases.  Usually symptoms of yellow fever will appear about 3 to 6 days to develop.


Symptoms of yellow fever


Typically yellow fever virus will develop quickly with symptoms which occur after the exposure of 3 to 6 days of virus attack. Generally, in initial stage of yellow fever will similar to flu symptoms which include:


  • headaches

  • muscle aches

  • joint aches

  • chills

  • fever


Acute phase


This acute phase of yellow fever disease typically lasts for 3 to 4 days. Some common symptoms are:


  • headaches

  • muscle aches

  • joint aches

  • a fever

  • flushing

  • a loss of appetite

  • shivers

  • backaches


After the acute phase of disease, symptoms slowly begin to move away. Mostly people with yellow fever virus will recover at this stage, but some people will face a more severe version of this disease.


Toxic phase


Symptoms that you faced in the acute phase might disappear for up to 24 hours. Then those symptoms will return with new and a very serious symptoms which include:


  • decreased urination

  • abdominal pain

  • vomiting (sometimes with blood)

  • heart rhythm problems

  • seizures

  • delirium

  • bleeding from the nose, mouth, and eyes


People with yellow fever who enter this phase are often deadly but only 15% of infected people might enter this phase.


Causes 


A flavivirus or yellow fever virus causes yellow fever and it can be transmitted when an infected mosquito bites you. Mosquitoes will become infected with the virus when that mosquitoes bite a human or monkey with the virus. But fortunately, yellow fever disease cannot spread from one person to another person.


Generally, mosquitoes will breed in places like tropical rainforests, humid, and semi-humid environments and places surrounded with still water.


If the contacts increased between humans and infected mosquitoes, especially in areas where the peoples have not vaccinated for yellow fever which creates small epidemics.



Other than mosquitoes, the other known one and only hosts of yellow fever virus are primates and humans.


The flavivirus or yellow fever virus which can be believed to be endemic among monkeys that can live in the treetops of forest is known as forest canopy in places like some parts of Africa and the Americas.


Travellers must check if the areas that you are visiting require vaccination. A yellow fever vaccine should take 10 to 14 days before the travellers provide effective protection from the yellow fever virus.


Diagnosis


Diagnosis will be confirmed only after your physician identifies the signs and symptoms and also with the help of blood tests.


Generally, physicians must recommend blood tests because other diseases will have the same signs and symptoms.


These include:


  • dengue fever

  • leptospirosis

  • malaria

  • poisoning

  • typhoid

  • viral hepatitis

  • Ansd some other viral hemorrhagic fevers


A blood test can also identify the virus or it helps to detect the antibodies which can be produced by the body when the virus enters the body. This blood test also helps to reveal the drop in white blood cells or  leucopenia, and another sign of infection.

Usually, these test results will take several days.


Treatment


Till now, there is no cure for yellow fever disease. Typically treatment for yellow fever disease involves managing symptoms and it assist your immune system to fight against the infection by:


  • You have to get enough fluids, which can be through your veins

  • getting oxygen

  • You have to maintain healthy blood pressure

  • getting blood transfusions

  • having dialysis if you undergone kidney failure

  • getting treatment for other infections which may develop future


Possible Complications


Some complications are : 


  • Coma

  • Death

  • Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

  • Kidney failure

  • Liver failure

  • Salivary gland infection (parotitis)

  • Secondary bacterial infections

  • Shock


Vaccination


The vaccination is safe for patients who are aged between 9 months and 60 years.


Below groups of people should not have the vaccination:


  • Children aged who are under 9 months unless the risk of yellow fever is not avoidable

  • pregnant women, unless the risk is unavoidable

  • Mothers who are doing breastfeed

  • people those who are allergic to eggs

  • people who have weak immune systems, unless you can avoid the risk of yellow fever, and also people with HIV, or people who are receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment


Patients who are above 60 years of age must discuss with their doctor whether to have the vaccine or not.


Prevention

If you are going on a trip in areas which are known to have yellow fever, you should get the vaccine about three to four weeks before the trip. Vaccination for yellow fever will provide lifelong protection for most people. Single dose is enough for protection. Some other tips are:


  • You should use a mosquito repellent which has DEET.

  • You should wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and socks that cover your whole body. 

  • If you wear clothes which are treated to repel mosquitoes.

  • You should consider using a bed net if the room doesn’t have air conditioners or you can use the screens on the windows.

  • You must avoid spending time outside when mosquitoes are active.In most of the cases which means dawn to dusk but some mosquitoes spread yellow fever during the daytime.

  • If you are diagnosed with yellow fever, you must cover up. You must avoid the mosquito bites or else it can be spread to someone else.


Frequently Asked Questions


Q1. What do I do if I think I have yellow fever?

Ans: Describe your symptoms to your health care provider, and do not forget to mention your travel history.


Q2. What are the complications?

Ans: Liver and renal failure, Death


Q3. How is yellow fever spread?

Ans: A certain type of mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is most often responsible for transmitting the virus.


Q4. How soon do symptoms appear?

Ans: Symptoms occur within three to six days after exposure.


Q5. Does past infection with yellow fever make a person immune?

Ans: Yes. People who have had yellow fever develop lifelong immunity.

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