CHIKUNGUNYA

What is it?
It is an infection caused by Chikungunya virus, which is an Alphavirus.

How do you get it?
The virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquito when it bites an uninfected person after biting an infected person.

What are it’s signs and symptoms?
Following the transmission of the virus, the newly infected person may show no signs of the illness for about 2 to 4 days. This is called the incubation period. In patients with chikungunya, after the incubation period, there is a sudden onset of fever and severe joint pains, accompanied by chills, flushed face, headache, muscular pain, backache, and difficulty looking at bright objects.
Joint pains are in multiple joints, involving different joints at different times, and mostly involve the small joints.
Skin rashes, typically on the trunk and limbs, occur usually during the second to fifth day of illness. The clinical picture resembles that of dengue fever, with which chikungunya is often confused. Most infections are probably asymptomatic. Joint pains may last several months. Although mild hemorrhagic manifestations have been reported; Chikungunya virus is not a cause of severe hemorrhagic disease.

How do you diagnose it?
Diagnosis is clinical, from the patient’s signs and symptoms. Investigations are usually not required to make the diagnosis and initiate management. Blood tests may be required if the illness need to be differentiated from Dengue Fever.

What is safe home care?
The patient should be given bed rest, plenty of oral fluids; not just plain water and Paracetamol for fever. Mild exercises in the morning will help relieve the pain.

How do you treat it?
There is no specific treatment for Chikungunya virus. Anti-inflammatory drugs may relieve joint pains. The severe joint pains may last several months, however, it usually reduces in intesity over a few weeks.

How do you prevent it?
Prevention depends on mosquito control and decreasing mosquito exposure.