Mosquitos transmit this kind of yellow fever, and it is most common in some locations in South America and Africa. This virus can cause damage to the liver and to other internal organs. It is also fatal in some cases. There are many cases of yellow fever worldwide each year, and urban yellow fever is most common in jungle climates that also have large local populations residing within deforested zones. Climate change might also be a factor in the uptick in cases of urban yellow fever.
The most common symptoms of this condition are stated in the name of the disease. Most people with yellow fever will display a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. You might also have a fever. The yellowing that is indicative of this disease is because yellow fever attacks the liver, causing damage to it.
Many people have limited symptoms in the early phase of the disease. The symptoms of the first stage of yellow fever often include fever and chills or mild flu-like symptoms.
Patients will then enjoy 48 hours of remission in phase 2. Many people recover at this point and never have any further symptoms. However, for those who do not remain in remission, the third phase is far more serious. In the third stage of the condition, a haemorrhagic fever can appear, and most patients also have internal bleeding. Damage to the liver and kidneys, and the circulatory system. Many people who end up with stage 3 yellow fever do not survive.
The cause of this condition is a bite from an infected mosquito. Humans cannot spread this virus to one another unless they are sharing contaminated needles. In urban yellow fever, these mosquitos breed in areas of standing water within the city. These might be lakes or large puddles that are filled with stagnant water.
The risk factors for getting yellow fever are:
Doctors will take a full medical history of suspected yellow fever cases and ask if you live near standing water or an area that is considered to be a jungle. If you have travelled to an area such as this, or if you work in a jungle location. Blood tests are usually used to confirm that your symptoms are related to yellow fever and not another kind of condition like malaria or typhoid.
Yellow fever is a virus, which means that there is no actual cure for the condition. You can be treated to manage the symptoms and to prevent further damage to your organs if you have entered stage 3 of the condition. Patients who are suspected of having yellow fever should not take over-the-counter pain medications to protect their liver and other organs from damage.
In many cases, patients will be admitted to the hospital to be given intravenous fluids and will be monitored closely. This condition can progress quite rapidly, and since the risk of death is high for those in stage 3, the hospital is the best place for patients.
Prevention of yellow fever can be difficult, especially if you live in an area that is near a jungle. Make sure that you use mosquito repellent when you are outside and that you do not allow standing water to collect on your property. If you live by a park or another location with standing water, you might want to avoid the area to limit your risk of exposure to potentially infected mosquitos. Sleeping under mosquito nets and keeping the windows and doors closed in your home can also help protect you from yellow fever.
If you have access to vaccination for yellow fever, this can be a great way to prevent contracting the illness. These vaccines will need to be repeated every ten years to keep your immunity in place.