A Simple Guide to Chikungunya Fever

A Simple Guide to Chikungunya Fever
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What is Chikungunya Fever?
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Chikungunya fever is an acute illness caused by the chikungunya virus transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito.

How is the Chikungunya Fever transmitted?
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Chikungunya virus is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Aedes mosquito.

Monkeys and other wild animals may be possible source of the virus.

Infected mosquitoes will spread the virus to other humans when they bite their skin.

The condition was first detected in Eastern Africa in the 1950 and recently has also outbreaks in India, Africa, Indonesia and Malaysia.

What are the Symptoms of chikungunya fever?
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The incubation period in mosquito is 3-5 days and 1-12 days in humans.

Symptoms usually last 3-10 days.

Symptoms may be the same as denque fever:

1.fever of sudden onset

2.severe and prolonged joint pains with or without swelling

3.muscle pain

4.headache

5.chills

6.rash -no petechiae, more of a maculopaular rash

7.fatigue

8.nausea

9.vomiting.

The most severe symptom is the severe and prolonged joint pains which can even last up to 1 month.

Unlike dengue fever,there has been no documented cases of hemorrhagic (bleeding) or shock syndrome reported in chikungunya infection.

The chikungunya virus also does not affect the nervous system.

How do you diagnose chikungunya fever?
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Diagnosis is made on the basis of :

1.high fever

2.severe and prolonged joint pain

3.blood tests for chikungunya fever

What is the treatment for chikungunya fever?
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There is at present no specific medication or vaccine to treat chikungunya fever.

TREATMENT IS THEREFORE SYMPTOMATIC:

1.rest,

2.plenty of fluids and

3.pain medication such as paracetamol may relieve symptoms of joint pain, body aches and fever.
Aspirin and NSAIDs should be avoided if possible.

What is the prognosis of chikungunya fever?
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The illness is usually self-limiting.

Most symptoms lasts for 3-10 days and the joint pain may last for weeks to months.

Rarely does it cause death(through high fever and dehydration).

How can you prevent being infected with the chikungunya virus?
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The best way to prevent chikungunya infection is to avoid bites from the Aedes Mosquito.

Preventive measures are the same as dengue fever such as getting rid of mosquito breeding places.