What Are The Symtoms And Treatment For Yellow Fever

Introduction

Yellow fever is a very serious and potentially life threatening disease that is common in certain regions of Africa and South America. The virus is particularly rampant during certain times of the year, and a lot of people fall victim to it, both locals and foreigners. The disease can be of both mild and aggressive nature. This article will look at the various symptoms of yellow fever and will also try and advise on viable treatment methods to cure the disease.

History

Yellow fever is not a contagious disease. It cannot spread through normal human to human contact. The main carrier of the disease is a female mosquito that is found in the affected regions. The virus spreads and multiplies in the blood stream once the mosquito has bitten. The virus can be of different types and intensities, so the cure also depends on which type you have. Thankfully, the virus only has a fatality rate of 3%, but this does not mean that proper care shouldn’t be taken to avoid the disease.

Features

The yellow fever causes certain symptoms in the affected people. There is an incubation period that lasts 3 to 6 days. During this time the virus matures from its initial stages. In the most number of cases the symptoms are mild ones. They include back pain, infection, fever, chills, loss of appetite, vomiting and nausea. The infection lasts anywhere between 3 to 4 days in this case. But there are certain cases, 15% percent to be exact, which progress to the second stage. The second stage is much more severe. The fevers get higher and the pains increase. Also there is loss and seepage of blood from different parts of the body like the mouth and eyes. Also the vomiting might contain blood. This stage has a mortality rate of 20%. The second stage is referred to as the toxic stage. Now we will focus on the treatment. The best treatment is prevention. There are vaccines available for yellow fever and people who have received these vaccines are unlikely to get infected. There is no real cure for yellow fever. Just like other types of fevers, yellow fever has no causative cure. It is advisable to seek hospitalization and other forms of intensive care. This is because the disease can spread very quickly in certain cases and the condition of the patient may deteriorate rapidly. The medicine required for the treatment is only pain killers. Other than this, there is a need to stay hydrated and ample doses of energy should be provided. This can be done through the use of drips. Lastly, it is also advisable to rest and avoid exertion of all sorts.

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