Yellow fever

One of the most dangerous hemorrhagic viral diseases, accompanied by severe lesions of the liver and kidneys, is yellow fever. The human body is very susceptible to pathology and in the absence of urgent medical measures serious consequences arise.

How is yellow fever transmitted?

The causative agent of the described ailment is the RNA virus. It is found in the blood of wild animals, often hedgehogs, marsupials and various species of rodents. The carriers of the disease are mosquitoes breeding in reservoirs and temporary reservoirs with a liquid that have direct access to the human dwelling. After feeding the blood of a sick animal, the insect becomes infectious after about 9-12 days.

It should be noted that even when infected, a person can not transmit the virus to others. Seldom there are cases of infection after getting the patient's blood to the damaged skin.

The incubation period of the yellow fever virus

The symptomatology of the disease does not manifest immediately when a mosquito stings. First, the cells of the virus enter the blood and lymph, begin to actively multiply and be introduced into the parenchyma of internal organs.

The incubation period, as a rule, is 3-6 days. With a strong immune system, it can increase to 10 days.

Symptoms of yellow fever

Symptoms of the disease proceed in 3 stages:

• febrile;
• remission;
• reactive.

At the first stage, the body temperature rises to 40 degrees. It is noted that:

• intense headache;
• aches in the body;
• hyperemia of the face;
• significant swelling of the extremities;
• pain syndrome in the joints and muscles;
• vomiting and concomitant dehydration;
• yellowing of the skin;
• thirst, nausea;
• in rare cases - nonsense.

The second stage is characterized by a sharp improvement in well-being and a drop in body temperature to normal values. But remission does not last long, only a few hours.

The third stage is accompanied by more severe symptoms:

• internal bleeding ;
• red spots on the skin;
• another increase in temperature;
• vomiting with an admixture of blood;
• slowing of the pulse;
• lowering blood pressure;
• weakness.

Prevention and treatment of yellow fever

Despite the absence of special therapeutic measures, it is very important to prevent the growth of symptoms of the disease and stop the temperature rise. For this it is recommended:

1. Bed rest.
2. Intravenous injection of sorbents by means of droppers.
3. Compliance with a high calorie diet.
4. Increase the amount of liquid to drink to restore water balance and prevent dehydration.
5. Reception of a complex of multivitamins and minerals.
6. If necessary, the use of anesthetics and antipyretic drugs is prescribed.

In severe cases of yellow fever, steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be used.

Prevention of the virus consists in the timely vaccination of the population living in areas with a high risk of infection (in mainly, Africa, Brazil, Peru), as well as vaccination when entering such states.

In addition, it is important to observe quarantine in case of infection of even one person. It is necessary to completely protect it from contact with mosquitoes during the first 4 days after the discovery of the first clinical manifestations of fever. Ambient reservoirs and containers with liquid should be eliminated or disinfected.

In addition to the above-described prevention measures, it is advisable to use special local preparations that protect against insect bites, to secure the living quarters with a grid.