In many persons, the disease progresses no further, and recovery is fairly quick. But in others, the fever drops for a day or two and then rises steeply. The skin turns yellow and there is bleeding from the gums and stomach lining. Many patients recover from this stage. Others become delirious and go into a coma.
Death follows the coma in most cases.
Only 2 to 5 percent of all cases of yellow fever result in death, though the figure may be higher during an epidemic. Persons who recover have a lifelong immunity to the disease. In persons who live in the endemic areas and who have some immunity, the illness is much less severe and of shorter duration. In such people, yellow fever usually does not cause any permanent damage to the body, but full recovery may be attained only after several weeks or even months. There is no cure for yellow fever.