Still reminiscing on camp life, there was this time we had a medical team from World Health Organisation (W.H.O), their yellow fever campaign was to vaccinate everyone between 9 months and 44 years and it was quick, safe and free...though the person that injected me did not remember to tell me sorry... but seriously, i realised then that most people do not have any knowledge of what yellow fever disease is. I made a mental note to pen it down on my blog, so enjoy...
Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The "yellow" in the name refers to the yellow colouration of the eyes due to jaundice that affects some patients. Haemorrhagic means that it causes bleeding.
The virus is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Central and South America. Humans and monkeys are the principle reservoirs for the virus.
Large cases of yellow fever occur when infected people introduce the virus into heavily populated areas with high mosquito density and where most people have little or no immunity, due to lack of vaccination. In these conditions, infected mosquitoes of the Aedes specie transmit the virus from person to person.
Most people will not have symptoms. Some people will develop yellow fever illness with initial symptoms including:
Most people with the initial symptoms improve within one week. For some people who recover, weakness and fatigue (feeling tired) might last several months.
A few people will develop a more severe form of the disease.
For 1 out of 7 people who have the initial symptoms, there will be a brief remission (a time you feel better) that may last only a few hours or for a day, followed by a more severe form of the disease.
Severe symptoms include:
High fever, Yellow skin (jaundice), Bleeding, Shock, Organ failure, Severe yellow fever disease can be deadly.
Yellow fever is prevented by vaccine, which is safe and affordable (if not free). A single dose of yellow fever vaccine is sufficient to provide sustained immunity and life-long protection against yellow fever disease. Yellow fever vaccine is recommended for people who plan to live in or travel to areas where yellow fever is known to exist, or those who are otherwise at high risk of coming into contact with the virus.
This vaccine is used to help prevent yellow fever in adults and children who are at least 9 months old. The vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an already developed infection in the body.
You should receive the vaccine at least 10 days prior to your arrival in an area where you may be exposed to the virus.
This vaccine is also recommended for people who work in a research laboratory and may be exposed to yellow fever virus through needle-stick accidents or inhalation of viral droplets in the air.
Like any vaccine, the yellow fever vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.
There is no medicine to treat or cure infection from yellow fever. Good supportive treatment in hospitals improves survival rates.
Rest, drink fluids, and use pain relievers and medication to reduce fever and relieve aching.
Avoid certain medications, such as aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example ibuprofen, or naproxen, which may increase the risk of bleeding.
All you need to do is walk into a hospital to get vaccinated!
Happy New Year Everyone!
Pharm G B. IDAMKUE
References:
1. link accessed on the 28th of December, 2018
2. link accessed on the 29th of December, 2018
3. link accessed on the 29th of December, 2018
4. link accessed on the 3rd of January, 2019
5. link accessed on the 3rd of January, 2019
Its very nice article this is informative post thanks for sharing this is great article thanks for sharing!!
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