YELLOW FEVER

Category: Infectious Diseases

Yellow fever is an acute infectious disease characterized
by jaundice, hemorrhages, albuminuria (albumin in the urine).

Cause. It is common in the West Indies and epidemic in nearby countries.
It is most common in crowded, dirty, poorly drained portions of sea coast
cities. It is probably caused by a specific organism which is conveyed
from one person to another by mosquitoes and not in clothing, as formerly
believed. One attack usually confers immunity.

Symptoms. Incubation is about three to four days. There may be a
fore-warning period, but the attack is usually sudden, with chills,
headache, backache, rise in fever, and general feverish symptoms,
vomiting, and constipation. Early in this disease the face is flushed,
while the conjunctiva and the mucous membrane lining the eyelids is
congested and slightly jaundiced. Fever is 102 or 103 degrees, and falls
gradually after one to three days. Pulse is slow, and while the
temperature rises, it again falls. The stage of calm follows the fall of
the temperature with increased jaundice and vomiting of dark altered
blood, the "black vomit." Hemorrhages may also occur into the skin or
mucous membranes. Brain symptoms are sometimes severe. Convalescence is
usually gradual. The disease varies from great mildness to extreme
malignancy. Mortality from fifteen to eighty-five per cent.

Treatment. Prevent spread of the infectious mosquitoes; use screens and
netting in infected districts. Careful nursing, food by rectum while
vomiting is frequent. For the hemorrhage opium is given; frequent bathing
will keep down the fever; and for the vomiting cocaine is given and
cracked ice.

Next: PLAGUE (BUBONIC PLAGUE)
Previous: ASIATIC CHOLERA

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YELLOW FEVER