Yellow fever is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes that causes fever, jaundice, kidney failure, and bleeding.

Yellow fever is caused by a small virus that is spread by the bite of mosquitoes. This disease is common in South America and in sub-Saharan Africa.

Anyone can get yellow fever, but the elderly have a higher risk of severe infection. If a person is bitten by an infected mosquito, symptoms usually develop 3 to 6 days later.

Yellow fever can be divided into three stages:

1. Early stage: Headache, muscle aches, fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, and jaundice are common. After approximately 3 to 4 days, victims often experience brief remission.
2. Period of remission: After a few days (3 to 4) fever and other symptoms go away. Most individuals will recover at this stage, but others may move onto the third, most dangerous stage (intoxication stage) within 24 hours.
3. Period of intoxication: Multi-organ dysfunction occurs. This includes liver and kidney failure, bleeding disorders/hemorrhage, brain dysfunction including delirium, seizures, coma, shock, and death.

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches (myalgia)
• Vomiting
• Red eyes, face, tongue
• Jaundice
• Bleeding (may progress to hemorrhage)
• Decreased urination
• Arrhythmias, heart dysfunction
• Vomiting blood
• Delirium
• Seizures
• Coma

A person with advanced yellow fever may show signs of liver failure, renal failure, and shock.

If you have symptoms of yellow fever, tell your doctor if you have traveled to areas where the disease is known to thrive. The diagnosis is confirmed by blood tests that reveal the virus, viral antigens, or antibodies.

There is no specific treatment for yellow fever. Treatment for symptoms may include intravenous fluids, blood products for severe bleeding, and dialysis for renal failure.

Yellow fever ranges in severity. Severe infections with internal bleeding and fever (hemorrhagic fever) are deadly in 25 - 50% of cases.

• Kidney failure
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
• Secondary bacterial infections
• Liver failure
• Parotitis
• Shock
• Coma
• Death

Seek medical attention at least 10-14 days before travelling to an endemic area for yellow fever to determine whether you should be vaccinated against the disease.

Notify your health care provider right away if you or your child develop fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or jaundice, especially if you have traveled to an area where yellow fever is known to occur.

If you will be traveling to an area where yellow fever is common, use mosquito repellents, wear clothing that fully covers your body, and sleep in screened housing. There is an effective vaccine against yellow fever. Ask your doctor at least 10-14 days prior to travel if you should be vaccinated against yellow fever.

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