Yellow fever
Overview
Yellow fever is a serious infection spread by mosquitoes. It's found in certain areas of Africa and South and Central America. You should have a yellow fever vaccination if you're travelling to an area where there's a risk of getting it.
Symptoms
Yellow fever symptoms usually start 3 to 6 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, but sometimes they can take longer to appear. Some yellow fever symptoms are similar to flu, such as: high temperatureheadachefeeling or being sickaches and painsloss of appetitefeeling generally unwell These symptoms often last 3 or 4 days. But a small number of people get more serious symptoms within 24 hours of feeling better. More serious symptoms include: yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice)dark peestomach painbleeding from your eyes, nose, mouth or stomach – you may have blood in your vomit or poo These more serious symptoms can be fatal.
Causes
Virus spread by mosquitoes (Africa/S. America).
Treatment
There's no specific treatment for yellow fever. Most people make a full recovery after 3 or 4 days. Things you can do to help ease your symptoms include: taking painkillers, such asparacetamoloribuprofen, which can help lower your temperature and relieve muscle pain or backachedrinking plenty of fluids to avoiddehydration If you have more serious symptoms of yellow fever, you'll need to go into hospital immediately to be treated.
Prevention
Yellow fever vaccination; Mosquito nets; Repellent.
When to see a doctor
See GP if: symptoms after travel to risk areas.