Everything You Need To Know About Yellow Fever

You’ve probably heard of yellow fever. It’s one of those conditions that has a famous name that almost everyone can recall having heard at some point. But how much do you really know about it? If you’re like most people, you probably don’t actually know that much, even if you might be aware that it’s a fairly serious condition. Well, yellow fever is a viral infection that is spread by mosquitos. It is most common throughout tropical places such as South America and Africa but often affects travellers and as well as residents of these areas.

 

Yellow fever isn’t necessarily a very bad or dangerous conditions. In its mild form, yellow fever causes headaches, fever, nausea and vomiting. So while it is unpleasant it is not necessarily life threatening. However, there is also the more serious form of the infection which can cause serious damage to your heart, liver and kidneys as well as cases of bleeding. In fact, the serious form of the condition is so dangerous that it is known to be fatal in up to 50 per cent of severe cases. So, given that yellow fever can be such a worrying threat to our lives – what is there that we can do about it?

 

Unfortunately there is no specific treatment that is able to fight off yellow fever – it is mainly down to your immune system and your ability to fight off the virus. It is well known, however, that if you receive the yellow fever vaccine before you travel to areas where the disease is prevalent then it will completely protect you from the condition. This is very good news for anyone who is likely to travel to an area where yellow fever causes problems.

 

So how do you know if you’ve got yellow fever? In the first few days when you have contracted the condition you won’t see any symptoms at all. Unfortunately, it then hits its most acute stage which can in some cases lead to a toxic stage where in severe cases it is known to be fatal. In the acute stage you’re likely to feel sick or be sick, followed by headaches and fever. In the toxic phase you’re likely to see a yellowing of your skin (which is where the condition gets its name from) followed by severe abdominal pain and vomiting, and then possibly bleeding from the nose, eyes and mouth, heart dysfunction and kidney and liver failure. Clearly, these very severe conditions are extremely bad for you.

 

With this in mind it cannot be emphasised enough that if you are travelling to an area that is well known to have problems with yellow fever, you must speak to your doctor well in advance of your travel so that you can receive your inoculations and travel safely to the region. In any case of travel to South America or Africa it is strongly advised that you seek urgently the advice of doctors on this issue as so avoid doing so can be very dangerous for you.

 

If you do find yourself exhibiting symptoms of the condition then it is worth seeking the advice of your doctor as soon as possible. In mild cases there may be little to do aside from rest and improving your health, but in more severe cases it is very important you seek urgent medical attention. Overall, however, it is strongly recommended that you receive inoculations from the condition before you travel as this is the only way to ensure you’ll be safe where you are.

Categories: Africa, South America, yellow fever

How Damaging Can Yellow Fever Be?

Mosquito bites from infected mosquitoes spread the dangerous disease of yellow fever, and you’re at more of a risk if you live in, or travel to, places where these infected insects thrive. This generally means Central and West Africa, as well as South America, Panama and Trinidad. Each year, this disease infects around 200,000 people around the world, and one in seven of these are hospitalised and die from its effects. It’s very rare for people from the UK to become infected, though. Once you have been bitten by an infected mosquito, you’ll start to see the symptoms around three to six days afterwards. This stage is known as the incubation period and the symptoms are sudden. These include a fever, shivers, headache, feeling sick or being sick, a loss of appetite, achey muscles or backache. The symptoms generally last around three to four days, after which you should start to feel better and the symptoms should gradually disappear. However, some people do experience relapses and become even more ill than the first time around. During this second stage, you may experience a higher fever, your skin and the whites of your eyes may become yellow (which is how this disease gets its name), kidney failure, stomach pains and being sick, blood in your vomit or faeces, and bleeding from your eyes, nose or mouth. It’s during this stage that the condition can become life threatening.

 

The disease is spread through mosquitoes picking up the virus from other infected people, or monkeys which are infected with the virus – they then pass it on to the next person they bite. This can only be spread in certain countries as there are specific species of mosquitoes which spread the infection – these live and breed in houses or in the jungle. It’s vital that you see a doctor as soon as possible if you’ve been to an affected area and start to develop symptoms as previously highlighted. If you’re abroad, you should still seek out a local hospital or see a doctor. Your GP or a medical professional will carry out a blood test and this will confirm whether you have the virus – it’s crucial that you state to your doctor that you’ve visited an area where yellow fever is common, as this will be vital to your diagnoses. It can be difficult to recognise yellow fever, as the symptoms are commonplace – especially in the first few days. It can sometimes be confused with other conditions such as malaria, dengue fever or typhoid, so giving as much information as you can is important.

 

There is no specific treatment for the virus, but the symptoms can be treated which will help you to feel more at ease and comfortable. If you become seriously ill, such as if you relapse, then you may need intensive care in order to recover. Pain relief comes in the form of over the counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. However, always read the information that comes with your medication in order to be aware of any risks that may be present. In addition to this, you should get some rest and drink plenty of fluids in order to reduce the risk of becoming dehydrated – generally around six to eight glasses a day. Once you recover from yellow fever, you will be immune from the disease for the rest of your life. There are vaccinations against the virus as well, to protect your immune system, and you can prevent the risk of becoming infected by protecting yourself from mosquito bites.

Categories: Symptoms, Vaccinations, yellow fever