Doctor, Doctor...
By Dave Hall
For all you hypochondriacs out there, Dave Hall continues his regular look at a some of the more unusual medical conditions, as well as some you thought you knew all about.
This week: YELLOW FEVER.
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Condition – Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease that occurs in Africa, South and Central America, and the Caribbean. It is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, spreads via the lymphatic system and has two phases. The first is usually characterised by fever, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting – after which most patients recover. About 15% of people, however, enter a second phase within 24 hours, where the fever reappears and the body rapidly develops jaundice and abdominal pains. This can lead to bleeding from the nose and eyes and eventually to kidney deterioration and failure. The term ‘yellow’ refers to the jaundice symptoms that affect some patients, leaving them with yellowed skin. It is an important cause of in many African and South American countries despite existence of an effective vaccine.
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Contagion – Because mosquitoes transmit yellow fever, anyone in the disease region can be affected if they have not been vaccinated.
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| Danger of death – The disease is fatal in about 50% of patients who enter the 2nd stage. The rest usually recover without significant organ damage. |  |
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Incurability? – There is no true cure for yellow fever, therefore vaccination is important. Luckily, one was developed in 1937 by Max Theiler, while he was working at the Rockefeller Foundation. It gives 10-year immunity, and protects people who are travelling to infected areas as well as controlling spread in the areas themselves.
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Likelihood of getting time off work – You’ll be in no fit state to work if you have gone away to deepest darkest Africa and come back with Yellow fever. And on top of that, no one at work will want to see you either.
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| Brag-ability – If you get it and recover fully, then why not bring it up in conversation. As long as you’re not still yellow from the whole experience. |
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Overall ridiculousness – Still common and dangerous in many parts of the world, and far from funny if you end up with stage two of the disease. Let’s face it, you know something is wrong if your eyes start bleeding… |
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More conditions to come soon:
Hyperekplexia, Copenhagen disease and more.
Find more curious conditions in Doctor Doctor. If you can't wait for the next Doctor Doctor, then why not find a Phunny Phobia to keep you going?
Photo: CDC, USA
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