Yellow fever

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Yellow fever

Treatment:

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.

Expectations (prognosis):

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

Complications:

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

Calling your health care provider:

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.

References:

Bryan CS. Yellow fever in the Americas. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2004; 18(2): 275-92.

Cohen J, Powderly WG. Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Elsevier; 2004:2095-2098.

Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 5th ed. London: Churchill Livingstone; 2000:1726.

Auerbach PS. Wilderness Medicine. 4^th Ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2001:1578-1580.

Review Date: 11/8/2005
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. editorial. Previously reviewed by Daniel Levy, M.D., Ph.D., Infectious Diseases, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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