Chikungunya is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. The virus was first spotted back in 1952 in southern Tanzania. Cases of the disease were initially reported in Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent for a number of decades and has spread to Italy back in 2007. After that, the disease has spread all over the world.
What are the indications of chikungunya?
Chikungunya is not capable of causing death but the symptoms can become severe enough and incapacitating. The usual symptoms include joint pain along with the following:
- Fever
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Rash
- Headache
The usual symptom of chikungunya include joint pain.
The symptoms usually start after 3-7 days but can take up to 12 days to manifest. In most individuals, they are able to recover but the symptoms can persist for weeks, months or even years in some.
Remember that the symptoms can be strikingly similar to the symptoms of the Zika virus and dengue fever which makes it hard to diagnose. The symptoms of chikungunya vary from dengue fever since the pain is more intense and focused in the joints. The joint pain can last for years after the initial symptoms have already passed. If an individual acquires the condition once, he/she is not likely to contract it again.
Who are at risk?
- Elderly
- Pregnant women
- Children below a year old
- Individuals who have pre-existing conditions
If an individual is included in one of these groups starts to show symptoms of chikungunya, bring him/her to the nearest healthcare facility right away.
What are the possible causes?
There are 2 species of mosquitos – Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which are carriers of the chikungunya virus. These mosquitos have the tendency to bite during daytime. The mosquito transmits the virus during a bite and then it multiplies rapidly in the bloodstream.
The mosquitoes also transmit viruses such as West Nile and dengue. It is important to note that the chikungunya virus is likely to infect an individual than the other mosquito-borne viruses. After being bitten by a carrier mosquito, most individuals can experience the symptoms.
How chikungunya is diagnosed
The doctor will diagnose the condition based on the symptoms of the individual. In most cases, a physical examination is carried out. A blood test will also reveal a higher amount of antibodies that indicates the presence of the virus.
Management
Even today, a cure for chikungunya is not yet available. Similar with the flu and other viruses, the treatment is focused on providing comfort to the individual and minimizing the pain.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen as well as other over-the-counter medications that do not include aspirin are usually recommended. In some cases, the doctor might prescribe pain medications if the pain is intense.