Yellow fever is a viral infection that is common in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa and South America. It is spread by a bite of a particular type of mosquito. It is caused by a virus called yellow fever virus belonging to genus flavivirus.
Generally, the disease begins with fever, chills, malaise, headache, nausea and evolves to jaundice (increase of bilirubin in blood, after which the disease is named), mucosal and internal hemorrhages, hemorrhagic vomiting and renal failure.This disease can be prevented by vaccination and protection from mosquito bites as female mosquito of genus aedes serves as the vector for the disease. Controlling growth and spread of mosquitoes by applying various insect control measures such as use of mosquito repellents, filling of stagnant water places like ditches, holes so that mosquitoes cannot find breeding places.
Treatment includes antipyretic drugs to control fever and headache. Acetaminophen can be used for this purpose. Antiviral drugs like ribavirin and interferons to control spread of virus in the body. Antiemetics are used to control vomiting.
