Chikungunya
Chikungunya, also known as Chicken Guinea, is a rare form of viral
infection caused by an alphavirus that is spread by the mosquitoes of
genus Aedes i.e. Aedes Aegypti, Aedes Albopicticus (Tiger mosquito). The
name of the disease is derived from the word 'Swahili', a language spoken
in East Africa meaning 'that which bends up', reflecting the physique
of a person suffering from the disease. Chikungunya virus is highly-infective
and disabling. It is possible for a person to have Chikungunya and Dengue
fever together at the same time because the infected Aedes mosquito can
carry both the viruses.
The disease which is most prevalent in urban areas was
first isolated in the year 1952, in the Makonde plateau, along the border
between Tanzania and Mozambique. The disease was first described by Marion
Robinson and W.H.R. Lumsden in 1955. Since then, the virus has caused
several epidemics in Asia, including Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia,
Vietnam, India, Burma, and Sri Lanka. In India, the first outbreak of
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was recorded in Kolkata in1963. It was followed
by epidemics in Chennai, Pondicherry, and Vellore in 1964; Visakhapatnam,
Rajmundry, and Kakinada in1965; Nagpur in1965; and Barsi in 1973. Recently,
in 2006 a massive outbreak of the CHIKV was reported in different parts
of India affecting lakhs of people. Though Chikungunya is not considered
to be fatal, deaths have been reported, directly or indirectly related
to this disease .
Symptoms
The symptoms of Chikungunya are very similar to those
of dengue fever, except that there is no hemorrhagic or shock syndrome
form. The incubation period is usually 1-12 days- that means the disease
manifests 1 to 12 days after the bite of the mosquito. Chikungunya virus
(CHIKV) infection can cause a debilitating illness characterized by high
fever which can reach up to 104 degree Fahrenheit. There will be a sudden
onset of flu-like symptoms, including severe headache, chills, rash, fatigue,
nausea, vomiting, muscle pain and joint pain. The normal symptoms persist
usually upto 3 days but in a few cases, they may be upto 2 weeks. The
joints of the extremities will become swollen and painful to touch and
because of this, the disease has been classified among the Arthritic Viruses. Platelet
Count in the body decrease till the disease persist. A condition known
as Nuetropenia occurs at times. It is a condition in which the antibodies
destroy the nuetrophils which are important white blood cells that help
fight infection. Children, pregnant women and person under stress will
be prone for more serious form of the complications
Treatment
Laboratory confirmation is important to detect Chikungunya,
since the clinical appearance of both chikungunya and dengue are similar.
CHIKV is usually diagnosed by blood tests.
There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine
available for chikungunya. Each victim had to be given separate treatment
based on symptoms. Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help
to ease symptoms of fever and aching. The patients had to take adequate
rest and drink plenty of fluids
.
Preventive Measures
The best way to avoid CHIKV infection is to prevent
mosquito bites. Infected persons should be isolated from further mosquito
exposure in order to avoid transmission of infection to other people.
Stagnating water, a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes,
is the main cause for the scattering of the disease. Preventive measures
for controlling proliferation of mosquitoes are eliminating stagnant water,
getting rid of containers like food cans, used tyres, buckets, barrels
etc which will retain water in the outdoor surroundings, covering water
tanks properly etc.
Other precautions are
* wear long sleeved clothes that will cover arms and legs for for protection
against mosquitoes
* use mosquito repellent products or nets
* use insect repellents over the exposed parts of the body
* secure screens on windows and doors
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