Yellow fever for short

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Yellow fever: description Acute infectious disease, caused by the bite of infected mosquitoes.
The name "yellow fever" was first coined around the mid-eighteenth century by Hughes Yellow fever: synonyms

• Black vomit
• Antillean fever
• Typhus jaundice

Yellow fever: geographical spread

• No cases of yellow fever have been observed in Asia, Europe and Australia
• Yellow fever is endemic in parts of equatorial and southern America
• Typical disease of the tropical forests of central Africa

Yellow fever: incidence

• 200,000 cases of people with yellow fever, of which 180,000 are African (90%)
• 5-10% of cases: yellow fever is fatal
• 40-60% of affected patients are asymptomatic: inaccurate estimates

Yellow fever: causative agent Causative agent: virus, known as Flavivirus (Fam. Flaviviridae, Genus: Flavivirus)
Vector: mosquito Aedes aegypti, which transmits the virus to man Yellow fever: life cycle of the virus

1. Urban cycle: infected man = natural reservoir of the virus. Vector = mosquito Aedes aegypti
2. Sylvan cycle: primates (monkeys) = natural reservoir of the virus. Vector = Haemagogus spp mosquito, Sabethes spp. and Aedes africanus

Yellow fever: symptom picture First phase (viraemic): fever associated with chills, headache, marked bradycardia, back pain, nausea and conjunctival hyperemia
Second phase (toxic): fever, jaundice, acidosis, oliguria, haemorrhages and proteinuria
Symptomatic triad: jaundice, proteinuria and haemorrhage Yellow fever: diagnosis

• Serological tests (ELISA test)
• PCR (genetic amplification test)
• Biohumoral tests (for confirmation or not of azotemia, abnormal coagulation, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and decreased blood fibrinogen)
• Liver biopsy

Yellow fever: therapies

• There is no universally effective therapy for yellow fever
• Possible therapy with interferon and ribavirin

Yellow fever: prevention and vaccines Vaccination is recommended before embarking on a trip to tropical and sub-tropical areas
Preventive tips for yellow fever:

• Bring dark clothing
• Do not leave skin parts exposed
• Use repellents to ward off mosquitoes

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