Internal Medicine | Posted on 06/22/2023 by Dr. Sushil Kalra
Yellow fever is one of the public health concerns in different parts of the world. Hence, it is important to understand the causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment options. It is mainly important for people residing in or traveling to high-risk areas. There are primary factors that must be taken into account such as vaccination, mosquito control measures, and immediate medical attention to prevent and manage yellow fever cases.
We can play our parts by contributing to the continuing efforts for eliminating yellow fever and protecting public health across the world by raising awareness and supporting global initiatives.
You will find comprehensive information on yellow fever, so make sure to read it till the end. Before moving on to the discussion, it is recommended that if you experience or suspect that you might be suffering from yellow fever, make sure to consult the best internal medicine doctor in Jaipur at CK Birla Hospital. You will find the most experienced and professional healthcare services here.
Yellow fever is a viral illness caused by the yellow fever virus that is transmitted to humans through infected mosquito bites which is known as Aedes aegypti species. The disease is named yellow fever because of its attributes such as eye and skin yellowing which can occur in people who are infected with this disease. Yellow fever is primarily found in subtropical and tropical regions. The virus is transmissible from person to person through infected mosquito bites, however, is not directly contagious between humans.
Yellow fever symptoms can differ in terms of severity and not all infected people will experience symptoms. However, when symptoms appear, they often develop in two phases which are acute and toxic yellow phase.
The symptoms of the acute yellow fever phase are:
The symptoms of the toxic yellow phase are:
Yellow fever is caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV) that belongs to the Flavivirus genus. The virus is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, most commonly from Aedes aegypti species.
The yellow fever transmission cycle involves mosquitoes and non-human primates, like monkeys. The virus is maintained in a sylvatic (jungle) cycle where mosquitoes feed on infected primates. Because of this reason, mosquitoes become carriers of the virus. Humans are easily infected primarily when they are bitten by infected mosquitoes.
Yellow fever diagnosis is initiated by a healthcare professional and often they involve using a combination of medical assessment, lab tests, and considering the travel history of a patient. The diagnostic process for yellow fever involves:
There is no cure available for yellow fever treatment and this is why it is essential to get the vaccination as it is the best way to prevent mosquito infections. Usually, doctors recommend getting complete bed rest and drinking lots of fluids as the patient can feel better. The healthcare professional can recommend not to take those pain relievers which can cause bleeding like aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If the patient's condition is severe, then it is recommended that the patient should get admitted to a hospital.
Yellow fever is a viral illness that requires immediate medical attention and is important to differentiate it from other illnesses like malaria, fever, dengue, etc. If you suspect that you might have yellow fever or have traveled recently to a region that is prone to yellow fever, then make sure to get in touch with internal medicine doctors at Rukmani Birla Hospital, Jaipur. They will assist you with the best management of the condition.
The mosquito species known as Aedes aegypti causes the spread of yellow fever.
No, yellow fever is not airborne.
Yellow fever is caused by a virus while malaria is caused by a parasite.