By: Dr. Abhishek Kumar Pandey, Asstt. Editor-ICN
LUCKNOW: Chikungunya is a viral infection caused by the bite of an infected female mosquito belonging to the Aedes aegypti. The word Chikungunya derived from a word in the Kimakonde language which means “ to become contorted or that which bends up.”
Chikungunya is not a contagious disease and an infected person cannot spread this infection to another person. The Chikungunya virus gets into a mosquito when it bites a person already infected with it and when the infected mosquito bites another person, the virus is transmitted.
The symptoms of Chikungunya virus infection usually begin to appear 3-7 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms are fever, and joint pain. Other symptoms include headache, chills, nausea, vomiting, joint swelling and skin rashes.
Most patients recover from the disease within a week or so. But in some patients, joint pain may persists for months.Once a person is infected with the Chikungunya virus, he is likely to be protected from future infections.
Chikungunya virus infection is suspected in persons with acute onset of fever and arthralgia, especially those who have recently returned from areas infected with the Chikungunya virus. The common lab investigations to confirm the presence of Chikungunya virus include-
- Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
- ELISA
- Hemagglutination inhibition assay.
There are no specific drugs to treat Chikungunya virus infection. Patients are treated symptomatically and are generally advised to take plenty of rest or drink fluids. Medications such as Paracetamol, ibuprofen, Naproxen etc. are prescribed to relieve the symptoms of fever and arthralgia.
There is no vaccine to prevent Chikungunya. The most effective way to present the infection from Chikungunya virus is to prevent the bite of the mosquitoes of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus groups. These mosquitoes will bite during the day and at night.
To avoid mosquito bite, use an insect repellent, wear long sleeved and full length clothes. It is important to avoid stagnation of contaminated water to prevent the breeding of the mosquitoes. Keep doors and windows closed, especially during the evening and early in the morning.
