Unfortunately, there is no specific medication or treatment that proves effective for yellow fever. In most cases, the kinds of treatments recommended are the same as those used in treating an uncomplicated case of the flu. They include bed rest, hydration, and the administering of over-the-counter (OTC) medications to reduce fever and relieve pain. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are typically used in yellow fever treatment, but doctors may recommend avoiding aspirin. Additionally, an individual with the disease may be advised to avoid exposure to mosquitoes, though this is for the purpose of preventing transmission rather than for yellow fever treatment.
Yellow fever is a potentially life-threatening disease, a fact that makes it even more disturbing that there are no specific treatments for it. Transmitted via the bite of an infected mosquito, yellow fever is caused by a virus. Since scientists have yet to discover an effective treatment for it, treatment is typically focused on keeping the patient comfortable and relieving symptoms. For example, doctors typically recommend rest and the consumption of plenty of fluids when a person has been diagnosed with yellow fever.
Since yellow fever treatment is focused on symptom relief, a person with the disease may take commonly used OTC medications to reduce his symptoms. For example, a person may take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help relieve the fever, aches, and pains that commonly develop with this disease. Naproxen and paracetamol may prove helpful for symptom relief as well. Aspirin is best avoided when considering yellow fever treatment, however, as it increases a person’s risk of developing Reye's syndrome, a serious condition that sometimes develops in relation to a viral illness.
A doctor may also recommend that a person with yellow fever avoid additional contact with mosquitoes. Doing so will not help to treat the disease, however. Instead, it may help to prevent the spread of yellow fever and keep the patient from contracting another mosquito-born illness.
While there are no real yellow fever treatments, there are solid ways to prevent it. For example, a person may seek vaccination before traveling to high risk areas. Additionally, spraying the area with insecticides, using insect repellent on exposed skin, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long trousers, and using intact window and door screens may help as well. Yellow fever cases are rare in North America and Europe. The most high-risk areas for the spread of yellow fever are found in South America and Africa.
