A Family Doctor's Tale - YELLOW FEVER

DOC I HAVE YELLOW FEVER

YELLOW FEVER fever is a acute viral infection caused by the YELLOW FEVER virus which is usually transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes msoquito.

The YELLOW FEVER virus is a flavivirus which are spherically enveloped RNA-containing particles.

2 epidemiologic forms of Yellow fever are present:
1.urban which has a human-mosquito-human cycle


2.jungle whivh has a monkey-mosquito-monkey cycle.
Humans get infected when accidentally bitten by the mosquito.

The incubation period in mosquito is 8-12 days and 3-6 days in humans.
Symptoms usually last 3-14 days.

A.Mild form:

1.Mild non specific fever
2.Headache
3.Pain behind the eyes
4.Muscle and joint pains
5.Nausea , vomiting
6.last several days with eventual recovery

B.Severe form

1.High, acute, prolonged fever  
2.Severe headache
3.Myalgia and bodyaches
4.nausea, vomiting
5.loss of appetite
6.anxious and distressed
7.Abdominal discomfort
8.gum hemorrhages and epistaxis
9.Fatigue

This stage called the viremic stage lasts about 3 days folled by a period of remission for 24 hours.

C.Recurrent Stage:

1.The fever then returns even higher
2.severe vomiting
3.epigastric pain
4.jaundice (hence the name yellow fever)
5.hematemesis
6.melena

Diagnosis of Yellow Fever:
1.characteristic fever, jaundice and vomiting in the later stages

2.inflammation of nerves and meninges

3.contraction of muscles of face, scalp and neck

4.neuralgia

5.MRI of the brain

6.blood tests for antibodies

The complications of YELLOW FEVER  are:
1.Hemorrhages in the stomach
a.hematemesis
b.melena

2.neurological disturbances(seizures,cranial nerve signs and coma) may indicate bleeding in the brain

3.Dilatation and distension of the cranial arteries

4.Inflammation of the cranial nerves, meninges, neuralgia

Treatment of Yellow Fever:
There is no specific anti-viral drug to treat the disease or a vaccine to prevent a person from being infected with the YELLOW FEVER virus.
Treatment is mainly supportive.
1. Rest
2. drinking lots of water to prevent dehydration will help.
3. Paracetamol for fever, severe headaches and body aches( Avoid aspirin and NSAIDs due to the risk of bleeding) to reduce the discomfort.
4. Intravenous fluids for hyto 10 days, but complete recovery can take as long as a month.potension and dehydration.
5. Antidepressant medicines are helpful

The illness can last up to one month before recovery

Prevention of Yellow Fever:

1.A vaccine against Yellow Fever was developed in 1951 and is effective against Yellow Fever for 10 or more years.

2.YELLOW FEVER Fever is spread only through the bite of the infected Aedes mosquitoes.

To prevent YELLOW FEVER fever, it is important to prevent the breeding of its carrier, the Aedes mosquitoes, identified by their black and white stripes on the body .
A puddle of water about the size and depth of 20-cent coin is sufficient for an Aedes mosquito to breed in.

The Aedes mosquitoes are commonly found breeding in clear stagnant water in flower vases, flower pot plates, roof gutters, earthen jars for water storage or decorative purposes, watering cans, and bamboo pole holders.

The Aedes mosquito can also breed in unusual places such as water trapped in the hardened soil in potted plates, and the rim of unwanted pails