What you need to know about Yellow fever?

Yellow Fever Bexley

Many countries in Africa like Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo require yellow fever vaccination. It is mandatory to show a proof for travel vaccinations before you enter the country. Many travel clinics in Bexley yellow fever vaccinations before your departure. It is advised that you visit any travel immunisation clinic in your vicinity at least 4 to 6 six weeks before your departure.

What is yellow fever?

Yellow fever is a hemorrhagic condition that can lead to a high fever, bleeding into the skin, and cell death in the liver and kidneys. If enough liver cells die, liver damage occurs, leading to jaundice, a condition in which the skin takes on a yellowish color. It is an acute, systemic disease, meaning that it starts suddenly, and it affects the whole body. The Flavivirus is the causative agent for yellow fever and is transmitted by mosquitoes, mainly the Aedes and Haemagogus species.

How is yellow fever transmitted?

Yellow fever is spread by mosquitoes in humans although it can affect monkeys too. If a mosquito bites a monkey that has the fever, they can pass it to humans. This can lead to outbreaks. After having it once, a person is generally immune, meaning that they are unlikely to have it again.

What are the symptoms?

Generally the symptoms are very mild in the beginning. The incubation period for yellow fever is 3 - 6 days and therefore it takes between 3 - 6 days for the symptoms to show.

Signs and symptoms are categorised into two stages:

For the early stage, the individual may show the following symptoms -

●     aching muscles, particularly the back and knees

●     high fever

●     dizziness with headache

●     loss of appetite

●     nausea

●     shivers, or chills

●     vomiting

The above symptoms vanish within a week to 10 days and improve over time but  some enter a toxic stage which is characterised by some life threatening symptoms which are as follows -

●     recurring fever

●     abdominal pain

●     vomiting, sometimes with blood

●     tiredness, sluggishness, lethargy

●     jaundice, which gives the skin and whites of the eyes a yellow tinge

●     kidney failure

●     liver failure

●     hemorrhage

●     delirium, seizures, and in rare cases, coma

●     irregular heartbeats

●     bleeding from the nose, mouth, and eyes

How can yellow fever in Bexley be clinically diagnosed?

The doctor will carry out a few blood tests ruling out the possibilities of other diseases with similar symptoms. A blood test may reveal the virus, or it may detect antibodies that the body produces when the virus enters the body. A blood test may also reveal a drop in white blood cells, or leucopenia, another sign of infection. Blood testing in Bexley can be carried out at your nearest clinics.

How can you prevent yellow fever?

As we all know that the risks are higher only in certain areas and so international travel vaccinations are necessary before your commence your journey. You can visit any yellow fever vaccine centre near your home and get vaccinated against the disease.