A viral infection caused by a flavivirus called yellow fever virus. It is transmitted to humans from infected mosquitoes. The signs and symptoms range from a mild febrile illness to liver damage with jaundice and hemorrhages.
Symptoms of Yellow Fever
The following features are indicative of Yellow Fever:
fever
headache
muscle aches, particularly in back and knees
sensitivity to light
nausea
vomiting, sometimes of blood
loss of appetite
dizziness
red eyes
yellowing of skin and the whites of eyes
abdominal pain
decreased urination
bleeding from nose
bleeding from mouth
bleeding from eyes
slow heart rate
liver failure
kidney failure
brain dysfunction
delirium
seizures
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Common Causes of Yellow Fever
The following are the most common causes of Yellow Fever:
caused by a virus carried by mosquitoes
Risk Factors for Yellow Fever
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Yellow Fever:
older people
people travelling to or living in South America and in sub-Saharan Africa
Prevention of Yellow Fever
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Yellow Fever. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
sleep in screened housing
use mosquito repellents
wear clothing that fully covers your body
yellow fever vaccine at least several weeks before traveling to the endemic area
Occurrence of Yellow Fever
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Yellow Fever cases seen each year worldwide:
Not common between 50K - 500K cases
Common Age Group
Yellow Fever can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Yellow Fever can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Yellow Fever
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Yellow Fever:
Blood test: To reveal the presence of virus
Liver biopsy: To detect presence of viral antigens and to verify necrosis and inflammation of hepatocytes
Doctor for Diagnosis of Yellow Fever
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Yellow Fever:
General Physician
Complications of Yellow Fever if untreated
Yes, Yellow Fever causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Yellow Fever is left untreated:
kidney failure
liver failure
disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
salivary gland infection (parotitis)
secondary bacterial infections
jaundice
delirium
can be fatal
Procedures for Treatment of Yellow Fever
The following procedures are used to treat Yellow Fever:
Blood products infusion: For the symptomatic treatment of severe bleeding
Dialysis: For the symptomatic treatment of kidney failure
Time for Treatment of Yellow Fever
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Yellow Fever to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
Disease cannot be treated but only maintained or effects reduced