Symptoms Linked To Yellow Fever

Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne virus commonly found in tropical areas of South America and Africa. According to the World Health Organization, yellow fever is responsible for approximately thirty thousand deaths each year worldwide, and approximately 200,000 cases of clinical disease. If individuals are planning on traveling to tropical locations where they might be at risk for catching yellow fever, there are a few things they'll need to consider for their safety. Since there is a vaccine for yellow fever, it is highly recommended for individuals to get the vaccine prior to traveling to countries and regions that may serve as a reservoir for the virus. Taking into account the time of year and the specific regions individuals will be traveling to may also have a role in how high the risk of contracting the yellow fever virus may be. Since mosquitos normally thrive in humid climates, laying their eggs in stagnant water, the rainy seasons and the beginning of the dry season immediately afterward are the seasons in which the risk for yellow fever is at its peak. Even with the proper precautions though, it is important to keep an eye out for any symptoms of yellow fever.

The most dangerous aspect of yellow fever is the fact it is initially asymptomatic, which means symptoms don't develop at the condition's onset, but only begin appearing after the gestation period has finished and the disease has already begun to spread in the patient's body. Most patients develop symptoms within three to six days once the disease enters its acute phase. While most individuals who contract yellow fever recover within one to two weeks, one in seven cases contract a more severe strain of the disease that enters the toxic phase and can cause more severe and potentially life-threatening symptoms.

Muscle Aches And Headaches

After about three days time, most patients suffering from yellow fever start getting sudden and severe headaches, as well as overall body aches. Depending on an individual's pain tolerance, as well as other factors, the severity of the headaches can vary from person to person. These muscle aches and headaches can persist for the next week or so until the infected individual recovers from the disease, or in rare and more serious cases, the virus enters the toxic phase. These headaches may also cause dizziness, and be accompanied by nausea and vomiting as well. These aches and pains can linger well into the recovery phase, which can take several weeks.