What are the Symptoms of Yellow Fever?

The symptoms of yellow fever tend to vary depending on what stage the virus is in. During the acute phase, which typically occurs between three to six days after a person has contracted the virus, the symptoms might include fever, nausea, and muscle aches. Symptoms of yellow fever during the acute phase tend to mimic symptoms associated with the flu. If a person's yellow fever progresses to the toxic stage, more serious symptoms might occur. The symptoms commonly reported during the toxic stage of yellow fever often include hemorrhaging, liver or kidney failure, as well as jaundice and seizures.

Yellow fever is primarily a problem in specific parts of the world, including South America and certain parts of Africa. The virus is normally passed by mosquitoes. If a mosquito bites a person or a monkey that has yellow fever, the mosquito carries the virus and is then able to pass the virus on with the next person or monkey it bites. There is a vaccine available that can prevent yellow fever, and people who are making plans to travel to areas where yellow fever is prevalent are often required to get this vaccination before they can enter these countries.

Most people who get yellow fever survive, but if the virus reaches the toxic phase, roughly 50 percent of people who have it do not survive. Once a person has the disease, there are no medicines that can cure it. Just like most other types of viruses, yellow fever has to run its course before passing out of the body. People who have toxic yellow fever often must be hospitalized for the symptoms of yellow fever, and during their hospital stays doctors may perform blood transfusions, dialysis, or whatever other procedures are necessary in order to keep the affected people alive until the virus passes out of their systems.

People who travel to South America, Africa, or any country where yellow fever is a problem should take certain other preventative measures in addition to getting vaccinated for the virus. It is typically considered a good idea to stay indoors at dusk when mosquitoes tend to be most active as well as wearing mosquito repellent, long sleeves, and long pants if being outdoors is a necessity. If sleeping outdoors cannot be avoided, a mosquito net should be used to keep mosquitoes out while a person sleeps. In the event that a person begins experiencing the symptoms of yellow fever, he should not delay getting medical treatment.