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yellow fever
An infectious disease caused by a virus carried by mosquitoes of the genus Aëdes and occurring in tropical South America and sub-Saharan Africa. Anyone can get yellow fever, but the elderly have a higher risk of severe infection. If a person is bitten by an infected mosquito, symptoms usually develop 3 to 6 days later.
Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, headache, backache, prostration, and vomiting of sudden onset. Protein loss in the urine, kidney failure, and liver disorder with jaundice are also frequent. Hemorrhage from mucous membranes, especially in the gastrointestinal tract is also common.
Yellow fever has three stages:
- Early stage: Headache, muscle aches, fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, and jaundice are common. After about 3 to 4 days, often symptoms go away briefly (remission).
- Period of remission: After 3 to 4 days, fever and other symptoms go away. Most people will recover at this stage, but others may move onto the third, most dangerous stage (intoxication stage) within 24 hours.
- Period of intoxication: Multi-organ dysfunction occurs. This includes liver and kidney failure, bleeding disorders/hemorrhage, and brain dysfunction including delirium, seizures, coma, shock, and death.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for yellow fever. Treatment for symptoms can include:
- Blood products for severe bleeding
- Dialysis for kidney failure
- Fluids through a vein (intravenous fluids)
Prevention
If traveling to an area where yellow fever is common:
- Sleep in screened housing
- Use mosquito repellents
- Wear clothing that fully covers your body
Related category
• HEALTH AND DISEASE
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine
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