Yellow Fever Treatment in Coral Springs

What is yellow fever?

Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease that can cause severe symptoms and even death. It is transmitted by mosquitoes and is common in the tropical regions of South and Central America, as well as Africa. Epidemics occur when infected individuals bring the virus into densely populated areas with low immunization rates.

A small percentage of people who contract yellow fever develop severe symptoms, and about half of those who experience severe symptoms may die. The disease gets its name from jaundice, which causes the skin, mucous membranes, and whites of the eyes to turn yellow due to high levels of bilirubin, a yellow-orange bile pigment.

Other symptoms of yellow fever include headaches, fever, vomiting, nausea, muscle pain, and fatigue. Although yellow fever is difficult to treat, supportive care in hospitals can increase the chances of survival. There is no specific antiviral treatment available. However, there is a highly effective and affordable vaccine that provides 99% immunity within a month of administration.

It is strongly recommended that Americans traveling to regions where yellow fever is common get vaccinated. If there is not enough time before departure, the vaccine remains highly effective, providing immunity for 80-100% of vaccinated individuals just 10 days after administration.

In addition to getting vaccinated, travelers should wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and use insect repellent to protect themselves in subtropical and tropical regions where yellow fever is prevalent. Diagnosis of yellow fever is based on travel history, symptoms, and laboratory testing.

How Does Yellow Fever Spread?

Yellow fever is spread when a person is bitten by an infected *Aedes aegypti* mosquito or *Haemagogus* mosquito, which exposes them to the infected virus. Yellow fever is related to other viruses such as West Nile, St. Louis encephalitis, and Japanese encephalitis.

The virus is transmitted through mosquitoes that become infected by feeding on infected humans or non-human primates. These mosquitoes then pass the virus on to other non-infected primates or humans when they feed on them. Humans infected with yellow fever can spread the virus to mosquitoes for a short period, both before and after the onset of symptoms.

Yellow fever is more common in areas with limited immunization, especially in parts of Africa and Central and South America, where the virus is endemic.

Are Malaria and Yellow Fever the Same?

Malaria and yellow fever are different mosquito-borne diseases. Malaria is spread by the bite of *Anopheles* mosquitoes, while yellow fever is transmitted by *Aedes* or *Haemagogus* mosquitoes.

Both malaria and yellow fever can sometimes be asymptomatic, but they also have the potential to cause severe and life-threatening symptoms. The key difference is that there is effective treatment for malaria, including intravenous infusions and oral medications, while no specific antiviral treatment exists for yellow fever.

Malaria is caused by a parasite, whereas yellow fever is caused by a virus. Despite being treatable, malaria has a higher death rate compared to yellow fever.

What Caused Yellow Fever?

Yellow fever is caused by the *Flavivirus*, a family of single-stranded, positive, enveloped RNA viruses. While mosquitoes are the primary vectors responsible for transmitting the virus to humans, the *Flavivirus* is also found in arthropods, particularly mosquitoes and ticks. The virus can infect humans and cause severe symptoms, sometimes leading to widespread mortality.

The spread of yellow fever is more common in regions where vaccination is not widely practiced. If you’re traveling to areas where yellow fever is prevalent, it’s essential to get vaccinated to protect yourself from the virus.

At Walking Urgent Care, we offer yellow fever vaccinations to those in Coral Springs before they travel. Learn more about yellow fever and how we can help keep you safe by scheduling a telemedicine appointment or contacting our clinic. We are conveniently located at 10308 W Sample Road, Coral Springs, FL 33065, serving patients from Coral Springs, Margate, Parkland, North Lauderdale, Tamarac, and Coconut Creek, FL.