Yellow fever is a type of virus that is most common in tropical/subtropical regions of Africa, Central and South America. Mild symptoms of yellow fever are similar to a flu virus, while severe symptoms can cause major complications or even loss of life.
While there is no official treatment for yellow fever, management of symptoms can have a positive impact on the outcome. Preventing transmission of the virus is also possible thanks to a vaccine.
Most people with yellow fever never develop symptoms, or experience very mild symptoms that typically show up in three to six days after transmission. Mild symptoms usually resolve in about a week, but some lingering fatigue can be an issue for the next few months. Mild symptoms include:
For people who experience more severe symptoms, the initial outbreak is followed by a period of remission lasting from a few hours to one day. Severe symptoms include:
Yellow fever is transmitted from person to person via infected mosquitoes. A mosquito will feed on an infected person or other non-human primate and acquire the virus. The mosquito will then spread the virus to others as it feeds. Once infected, a person is contagious just before the outbreak of fever and up to five days after. Should a mosquito feed on an infected person during this time period, it will acquire the virus and continue the cycle of transmission.
Yellow fever shares many symptoms with other ailments, so diagnosis is often challenging. Once symptoms present, doctors can sometimes use blood tests to determine the underlying cause. However, testing is most effective when the disease is in its later stages.
There is no specific treatment for yellow fever but visiting a medical professional immediately after the onset of symptoms ensures they can be effectively controlled. Medical staff can take steps to reduce fever and ensure a person is properly hydrated until their symptoms subside.
While there is no treatment, vaccines can prevent transmission. Both infants and adults can be vaccinated to reduce transmission rates and ensure that those who do fall ill have the medical resources they need to manage symptoms.