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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffDiagnosing yellow fever based on signs and symptoms can be difficult because early in its course, the infection can be easily confused with malaria, typhoid, dengue fever and other viral hemorrhagic fevers.
To diagnose your condition, your doctor will likely:
- Ask questions about your medical and travel history
- Collect a blood sample for testing
If you have yellow fever, your blood may reveal the virus itself. If not, blood tests known as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) also can detect antigens and antibodies specific to the virus. Results of these tests may not be available for several days.
References
- Monath TP. Yellow fever. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 20, 2011.
- Yellow fever fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/yellowfever/YF_FactSheet.html. Accessed July 19, 2011.
- Hayes EB. Flaviviruses. In: Long SS. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Revised Reprint. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7020-3468-8..50224-8&isbn=978-0-7020-3468-8&uniqId=267749278-4#4-u1.0-B978-0-7020-3468-8..50224-8. Accessed July 19, 2011.
- Yellow fever frequently asked questions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/yellowfever/YF_FAQ.html. Accessed July 19, 2011.
- Yellow fever vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/YellowFever/vaccine/index.html. Accessed July 19, 2011.
- Insect repellent use and safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/insect_repellent.htm. Accessed July 19, 2011.
- Vaccinations. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/content/vaccinations.aspx. Accessed July 20, 2011.
- Possible side-effects from vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm#yf. Accessed July 20, 2011.
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