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 supportive care.

 

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 Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD