Yellow fever

Definition

Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti. It causes symptoms ranging from fever to severe liver disease and jaundice.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Yellow fever virus belongs to the Flaviviridae family.
2. The primary vector for yellow fever transmission is the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
3. Symptoms of yellow fever include high fever, jaundice, bleeding, and organ failure.
4. There is no specific antiviral treatment for yellow fever; supportive care is the mainstay of treatment.
5. Vaccination with the live-attenuated yellow fever vaccine provides effective immunity.

Review Questions

Related terms

Flavivirus:

A genus of viruses that includes pathogens like dengue virus, Zika virus, and West Nile virus.

Hemorrhagic Fever: A group of illnesses caused by several distinct families of viruses that result in severe multi-system organ damage.

Jaundice:

A medical condition characterized by yellowing of the skin and eyes due to elevated bilirubin levels, often seen in liver diseases.