Yellow Fever: Meaning, Diagnosis and Overview

What is Yellow Fever?

Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic (flow of blood in ruptured blood vessel) disease that is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquito. The yellow in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients. It is a systemic illness which means it affects the whole body. 
 jaundice

Recovery Time

It lasts for 3 to 4 days but it will be serious if individual do not recover in 4 days.

Diagnosis

  • Medical history
  • Blood tests (ELISA and PCR)
  • Travel history

FAQs prepared by doctor

1. How long should a woman wait to conceive after receiving a yellow fever vaccination?
Yellow fever vaccine has been given to many pregnant women without any apparent adverse effects on the fetus. However, since yellow fever vaccine is a live virus vaccine, it poses a theoretical risk. While a two week delay between yellow fever vaccination and conception is probably adequate, a one month delay has been advocated as a more conservative approach. If a woman is inadvertently or of necessity vaccinated during pregnancy, she is unlikely to have any problems from the vaccine and her baby is very likely to be born healthy.

2. What is the treatment for yellow fever?
No specific treatments have been found to help patients with yellow fever. If possible, patients with yellow fever should be hospitalized for treatment of their symptoms and close observation by health care workers.
Rest, fluids, and use of pain medications and fever-reducing medications may relieve symptoms of fever and aching.
Certain medications should be avoided, such as aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen and naproxen), because these may increase the risk for bleeding.

3. I want to go to foreign trip, after how many doses of yellow fever vaccine I can start my trip?
Single subcutaneous injection of 0.5 ml of reconstituted vaccine provides immunity build up by 10 days which last for 10 years. Every country doesnot require the vaccination card. Its compulsory for few yellow fever endemic countries. Timely information on changes in yellow fever distribution and yellow fever vaccine requirements can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel).

4. Why are children less than 9 months not advised for yellow fever vaccine?
Vaccination has been associated with several cases of encephalitis in children <6 months of age, it should be delayed until after 12 months of age unless the risk of exposure is very high.



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