Yellow Fever - Symptom, Treatment And Causes

Infected mosquitoes generally spread yellow fever to humans. Contaminated syringes are the only way humans can transmit the infection to each other. It can’t be transmitted directly from one person to another. Sevearl mosquito species can transmit the virus responsible for causing yellow fever. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes in urban areas as well as jungles. Monkeys can also get infected by this virus. The skin becomes yellow due to liver damage.

The initial symptoms may not appear in few people while others may get the symptoms within six days of being bit. There are three phases in yellow fever. The first one lasts up to four days and has symptoms of flu like headache, vomiting, chills, fever and muscle aches. Remission is the next phase and lasts up to 48 hours. Most people recover during this phase. However a toxic third phase might be there for few people. Viral hemorrhagic fever may develop and internal bleeding, high fever and kidney and liver damage may take place. It may cause multiple organs to stop functioning due to shock and may cause death.

Blood tests and checking the symptoms should suffice to detect yellow fever. It may have overlapping symptoms with other tropical diseases like typhoid and malaria.

As it has no cure, treating the symptoms can bring relief. Hospitalization may be required and drugs like aspirin (which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) shouldn’t be taken as it may worsen internal bleeding. You should get vaccinated before travelling to places where the incidences of yellow fever are high. Tropical areas like Latin America and Africa have mandatory vaccinations before you enter the country.

Vaccination

The vaccine for yellow fever isn’t suitable for everyone. It may result in serious complications in some people. Attempts to make a safer killed vaccine for yellow fever are under way.

• If your immune system is compromised, in instances like HIV
• If you have thymus gland issues or cancer
• If your treatment for other conditions can affect the immunity, like steroids
• If you are above 65 years.
• If you are breastfeeding or pregnant
• If your child is under one year of age.
• If you have had severe allergic reactions to chicken, gelatin, eggs or a previous yellow fever vaccine.