Yellow Fever Treatment

There is currently no yellow fever treatment that can kill the virus. Therefore, treatment is focused on providing relief of a person's symptoms as the body fights the virus. Treatment to relieve symptoms can include resting in bed, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking acetaminophen (not aspirin) to relieve fever and discomfort. In severe cases, treatment of yellow fever requires hospitalization for intensive An Overview of Yellow Fever Treatment Within three to six days after a person is bitten by a mosquito infected with the yellow fever virus, he or she may develop yellow fever symptoms. There is currently no treatment that can kill the yellow fever virus. Therefore, yellow fever treatment is focused on providing relief of these symptoms as the body fights the virus. Yellow Fever Treatment in Mild Cases People who experience mild yellow fever symptoms usually have symptoms for a couple of days. During this time, treatment to relieve symptoms can include: * Resting in bed * Drinking plenty of fluids * Taking medication such as acetaminophen (not aspirin) to relieve fever and discomfort. Yellow Fever Treatment in Severe Cases Occasionally, an infected person may develop more severe disease. In these cases, yellow fever treatment usually requires hospitalization for intensive supportive care. This supportive care can include: * Intravenous (IV) fluids * Medications to control seizures, nausea, or vomiting * Blood replacement * Breathing support from a ventilator * Prevention of secondary infections (pneumonia, urinary tract, etc.) * Good nursing care. Yellow Fever Treatment and Prognosis The overall yellow fever death rate is estimated to be between five and ten percent. However, yellow fever research scientists and doctors believe that the death rate might even be lower. In a number of yellow fever cases, the infection causes no symptoms, or very mild symptoms, and people do not seek medical attention.