Yellow Fever – Basic microbiology, parasitology, and immunology; nature, reproduction, growth, and transmission of common microorganisms and parasites in Bangladesh; prevention including universal precaution and immunization, control, sterilization, and disinfection; and specimen collections and examination. Students will have an understanding of common organisms and parasites caused human diseases and acquire knowledge about the prevention and control of those organisms.
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a serious, potentially deadly flu-like disease spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which also transmit dengue and Zika viruses. It’s characterized by a high fever and jaundice. Jaundice is yellowing of the skin and eyes, which is why this disease is called yellow fever.
Clinical Feature/Signs and Symptoms:
Acute phase
➤ Fever
➤ Headache
➤ Muscle aches, particularly in your back and knees
➤ Sensitivity to light
➤ Nausea, vomiting or both
➤ Loss of appetite
➤ Dizziness
➤ Red eyes, face or tongue
These signs and symptoms usually improve and are gone within several days,
Toxic phase
➤ Yellowing of the skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
➤ Abdominal pain and vomiting, sometimes of blood
➤ Decreased urination
➤ Bleeding from your nose, mouth and eyes
➤ Slow heart rate
➤ Liver and kidney failure
➤ Brain dysfunction, including delirium, seizures and coma
Diagnosis
➤ Yellow fever is difficult to diagnose, especially during the early stages. A more severe case can be confused with severe malaria, leptospirosis, viral hepatitis (especially fulminant forms), other haemorrhagic fevers, infection with other flaviviruses (such as dengue haemorrhagic fever), and poisoning
➤ Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in blood and urine can sometimes detect the virus in early stages of the disease. In later stages, testing to identify antibodies is needed (ELISA and PRNT).
Causes
➤ Yellow fever is caused by a virus that is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. These mosquitoes thrive in and near human habitations where they breed in even the cleanest water. Most cases of yellow fever occur in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America.
➤ Humans and monkeys are most commonly infected with the yellow fever virus. Mosquitoes transmit the virus back and forth between monkeys, humans or both.
➤ When a mosquito bites a human or a monkey infected with yellow fever, the virus enters the mosquito’s bloodstream and circulates before settling in the salivary glands. When the infected mosquito bites another monkey or human, the virus then enters the host’s bloodstream, where it may cause illness.
Treatment.
➤ No specific treatment exists for yellow fever, which is one reason that preventive measures such as vaccination are so important.
➤ Supportive treatment is aimed at controlling the symptoms, and includes rest, fluids, and se of medicines to help relieve fever and aching.
➤ Certain medications should be avoided, such as aspirin or non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs, which may increase the risk for bleeding.
➤ People with yellow fever should be protected from further mosquito exposure (for example, they should stay indoors or under a mosquito net) during the first few days of illness, so they do not contribute to the disease transmission cycle.
➤ It is believed that people who have had yellow fever develop lifelong immunity.
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