In: Biology
Yellow fever is a viral infection characterized by fever ,headache, abdominal pain and yellowing of skin (jaundice) due to liver cell damage.
The disease is caused by a virus called yellow fever virus belonging to genus flavivirus.
The symptoms of this infection are ;
Headache accompanied with fever.
Yellowing of skin due to increased level.of bike in blood due to damage to liver cells.
Joint pain.
Abdominal pain.
Chills.
In severe case, infection leads to vomiting, bleeding from nose, mouth and eyes.
This disease can be prevented by vaccination and protection from mosquito bites as female msoquito of genus aedes serves as the vector for the disease. Controlling growth and spread of mosquitoes by applying various insect control measures such as use of mosquito repellents, filling of stegnant water places like ditches, holes so that mosquitoes cannot find breeding places.
Treatment includes antipyretci drugs to control fever and headache. Paracetamol can be used for this purpose.
Antiviral drugs like ribavirin and interferons to control spread of virus in the body.
Antiemetics are used to control vomiting.