Definition

Yellow fever is a viral disease. Most people recover. Some have serious or life-threatening illness.

Causes

An infected mosquito passes the virus through a bite on the skin.

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Risk Factors

Things that may raise the risk are:

• Living in or going to places where yellow fever is common
• Not getting a yellow fever vaccine, or
• Not using mosquito protection

Symptoms

Symptoms appear within a week after a mosquito bite. The acute phase lasts 3 to 4 days. Then symptoms go away. At the end of the acute phase, some people move to the toxic phase.

Some may not have symptoms. Those who do may have:

Acute phase:

• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting

Toxic phase:

• High fever
• Belly pain
• Bleeding from the gums, nose, eyes, or stomach
• Vomit that appears black—caused by bleeding
• Yellowing of the skin—jaundice
• Confusion, seizure, or coma

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about symptoms, health, and travel history. A physical exam will be done. Yellow fever can be confirmed by blood tests.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to ease symptoms. It may include:

• Fluids by mouth or IV to prevent dehydration
• Medicines to lower fever and pain
• Dialysis (toxic phase) to help kidneys filter waste
• Transfusion (toxic phase) to replace blood lost through bleeding

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Prevention

Yellow fever can be prevented with a vaccine.

The risk can be reduced by covering up the skin, wearing bug spray with DEET, and using screens.

People who have had yellow fever will not get it again.