Yellow fever is a disease spread by mosquito bites. It is named as such because of the fact that someone who has it also suffers from jaundice, the yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes. Another hallmark symptom of this contagious disease is high fever. There are a bunch of other symptoms, depending on the phase the patient is currently in.
Knowing the various symptoms of this disease is important so that you may obtain medical treatment. Seeing a doctor immediately is a must before the virus behind yellow disease could cause damage to your organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart and various parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
To date, there is no known cure for yellow fever. What a doctor may do is prescribe medicines for managing the symptoms as well as strengthening the immune system to assist the body in dealing with yellow fever. Avoiding the disease is very much possible with the help of a vaccine. After getting medical treatment, there are a few home remedies that you may count on in order to bounce back from this flu-like disease successfully and at a much faster rate.
Below are some of the most important matters you need to know about yellow fever:
Causes
When a mosquito bites a person or monkey infected with yellow fever, that mosquito becomes a carrier of the flavivirus. Being bitten by the said mosquito is what can leave you with yellow fever. The mosquito capable of spreading yellow fever breeds in humid and semi-humid areas, and can easily create a small-scale epidemic especially if the residents of the area have not been vaccinated for yellow fever.
It’s important to note that you cannot get yellow fever from an infected individual in any way or form. You can get the disease only when you are bitten by a mosquito carrying the flavivirus.
Symptoms
The symptoms of yellow fever somewhat vary, depending on the phase that an infected individual is in. Initially, you may exhibit the symptoms of the flu about 3 to 6 days after being infected. These symptoms include fever, chills, headaches, and muscle and joint pain.
During the acute phase that lasts 3 to 4 days, you may still have the symptoms mentioned above, with the addition of loss of appetite and back aches. The symptoms tend to go away once the acute phase is over. Most people tend to completely recover from yellow fever after the acute phase, although some may proceed with the toxic phase. Experts say that only about 15 percent of people with yellow fever end up going through the toxic phase.
The toxic phase is a serious version of yellow fever. This phase tends to appear about a day after the disappearance of the symptoms experienced during the acute phase. Some of the additional symptoms in this phase include abdominal pain, decreased urination, bleeding from the nose, mouth and even the eyes, vomiting which may have blood in it, delirium, seizures and problems with the heart’s rhythm.
Home Remedies
Just like what’s said earlier, there is no available cure for yellow fever. What your doctor can do is prescribe medications for the symptoms as well as for strengthening the immune system so that your body may effectively deal with the virus causing the disease.
There are also certain things that may be done at home to help you recover from this flu-like disease. Some of the most common of these home remedies include:
• Have a well-balanced diet. Supplying your body with the right nutrients helps strengthen your immune system.
• Get plenty of rest. Much of your body’s energy should be used for its own management of yellow fever.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Keeping the body hydrated helps maintain the proper functioning of your organs.
• Consume cayenne pepper. This spice is capable of reducing fever as well as bolstering your immune system.
• Take fenugreek seeds. A lot of people swear by the effectiveness of fenugreek seeds in controlling the disease.
• Drink garlic tea. Thanks to garlic’s antiviral properties, it can help you manage yellow fever and its symptoms.
