How is Yellow Fever detected?
Yellow fever is an infection that is transmitted by mosquitoes and is fatal if not treated properly. It starts suddenly and affects the whole body. It is transmitted by mosquitos belonging to Aedes and Haemogogus species. Yellow fever cannot spread from person to person. There are a number of symptoms of yellow fever, the most common being high fever, decrease in pulse rate, jaundice, and bleeding. In this article, we will explore the tests used to diagnose yellow fever.
Diagnosis of Yellow Fever
Yellow fever diagnosis is difficult in the early stages, and its symptoms resemble the symptoms of flu, malaria, dengue, viral Hepatitis, typhoid and hemorrhagic fever which can make detecting it tricky.
- Your doctor will recommend a blood test after assessing your symptoms. The blood test will confirm the presence of a virus or the antibodies that are required to fight yellow fever. Moreover, the blood test may detect the decrease in white blood cells or leucopenia which is another indication for the infection.
- Further, PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) assay is a blood test that helps detect the virus in the initial phase. It is a very accurate tool and is extremely convenient.
- ELISA and PRNT are the other types of blood tests that are advised to be conducted in order to detect the antibodies in the human body.
Conclusion
To conclude, yellow fever can be detected through a series of blood tests. While preventive vaccinations have largely diminished the prevalence of the virus, it is still important to detect any symptoms due to the potential severity of the disease. Fortunately, many health insurance plans now cover immunizations and other treatments related to the detection of infectious diseases like yellow fever. Therefore, it is a wise precaution for people who are at risk to ensure that they are adequately covered by their health insurance plan.