Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a serious, potentially fatal disease that can be transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The yellow in the name of the disease refers to the symptoms that sufferers will experience, namely jaundice.
This disease is most commonly found in tropical countries such as Africa, as well as Central and South America. Yellow fever cannot be cured, but it can be prevented by getting the yellow fever vaccine.
Symptoms of Yellow Fever
The symptoms of yellow fever are divided into three phases, namely:
1. Incubation Phase
This phase lasts for 1-3 days after being infected with the virus. In this phase, the body does not show any signs or symptoms.
2. Acute Phase
This phase lasts for 3-4 days or on the third and fourth day after infection. Symptoms will be felt to arise and disappear. There are several health complaints that are often experienced by yellow fever sufferers in the acute phase, such as:
- Fever.
- Dizzy.
- Redness of the eyes, face, or tongue.
- Headache.
- Glare from light.
- Decreased appetite.
- Muscle pain.
- Nausea and vomiting.
3. Toxic Phase
This phase is experienced when the symptoms of yellow fever are felt again by the sufferer but with a more serious level of severity. The symptoms experienced can be:
- The skin and sclera (whites of the eyes) turn yellow.
- Heart rate slows down.
- Stomach ache.
- Vomiting that sometimes contains blood.
- Nosebleeds, bleeding gums, and bleeding from the eyes.
- Decreased urine output and kidney failure.
- Liver failure.
- Decreased brain function, including delirium, seizures, and coma.
Yellow Fever Risk Factors
Those who have not received the yellow fever vaccine and live in areas where there are many mosquitoes that carry the virus are at high risk of contracting yellow fever. In addition, people who frequently travel to areas with high cases of yellow fever are also at greater risk of contracting high fever. These areas include sub-Saharan Africa and South America.
Causes of Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is caused by a virus from the genus Flavivirus. This virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Aedes Aegypti mosquito. Humans can also be infected with this virus if they are infected through blood contact such as from needles that have been contaminated with the blood of an infected person.
Yellow Fever Diagnosis
Yellow fever in its early stages may be quite difficult to detect. In the toxic phase, the disease resembles malaria, leptospirosis, viral hepatitis, other dengue fevers, and poisoning. In the early stages, doctors generally perform blood tests (RT-PCR) to detect the virus. In the later stages, doctors can perform tests to identify antibodies, such as ELISA and PRNT.
Yellow Fever Complications
Complications generally occur during the toxic phase, including:
- Bleeding.
- Myocarditis or inflammation of the heart muscle.
- Pulmonary edema or fluid accumulation in the lung sacs (alveoli).
- Hepatorenal syndrome, which is the occurrence of kidney failure in sufferers who experience liver damage.
- Encephalitis or inflammation of the brain.
- Secondary bacterial infection.
Yellow Fever Treatment
To date, there is no specific treatment for yellow fever. Some treatments that doctors recommend to help cure include:
- Providing oxygen therapy.
- Consume fluids or water to meet the body’s needs.
- Maintain stable blood pressure with IV fluids.
- Give fever-reducing medication and pain relievers to sufferers.
Yellow Fever Prevention
Here are some efforts that can be made to prevent yellow fever:
- Vaccination is especially for those who want to travel to high-risk areas, such as Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. This vaccination should be done at least 3-4 weeks before departure.
- Wear long sleeves and long pants.
- Avoid doing a lot of outdoor activities, especially in the afternoon until dawn.
- Complete the windows with mosquito wire.
- Use air conditioning.
- Use a mosquito net when sleeping.
- Use mosquito repellent cream. If you want to use mosquito repellent cream on babies and children, use a product that is specifically designed for babies and children.
- Use natural ingredients, such as eucalyptus oil, to provide protection against mosquito bites.
When to See a Doctor?
You need to see a doctor when traveling to an area where yellow fever is prevalent. Do this 4 weeks before you go to make sure you need to get the yellow fever vaccine.
Don’t forget to visit your doctor again when you’re done traveling. Check your overall health condition. Especially if you experience some symptoms related to this disease.
If you have taken preventive measures, but yellow fever still attacks and interferes with daily activities, immediately visit a doctor to get the right treatment. Treatment that is done as early as possible can help prevent the condition from getting worse.
Popular Vaccines For Yellow Fever Near Me
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