infectious diseases
Yellow Fever
Diagnosis of Yellow Fever
Viral culture, reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), or serologic testing Yellow fever is suspected in patients in endemic areas if they develop sudden fever with relative bradycardia and jaundice; mild disease often escapes diagnosis. Complete blood count, urinalysis, liver tests, coagulation tests, viral blood culture, and serologic tests should be done. Leukopenia with relative neutropenia is common, as are thrombocytopenia, delayed clotting, and increased prothrombin time (PT). Bilirubin and aminotransferase levels may be elevated acutely and for several months. Albuminuria, which occurs in 90% of patients, may reach 20 g/L; it helps differentiate yellow fever from Overview of Acute Viral Hepatitis . In malignant yellow fever, Diagnosis of yellow fever is confirmed by culture, serologic tests, RT-PCR, or identification of characteristic midzonal hepatocyte necrosis at autopsy. Needle biopsy of the liver during illness is contraindicated because hemorrhage is a risk. 