Chikungunya Disease.

Chikungunya is a viral infection caused by the Chikungunya virus, transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. It causes an illness which is characterized by acute fever, headache, joint and muscle pains (especially in the hand and leg), which may persist for a very long time in some cases. Chikungunya does not often result in death, but the joint and muscle pain may last for months, or even years, and may lead to chronic pain and disability.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS.

After a period of about one to twelve days, which is the incubation period of
the virus, most infected people begin to show some symptoms.

* The most common symptoms are acute fever and joint pain (especially in the hand and leg).

* Other symptoms include headache, muscle pain, back pain, joint swelling, fatigue, rash (not in all cases);

* Nausea, partial loss of taste, vomiting, and conjunctivitis.

* According to WHO, occasional cases of eye, neurological and heart complications have been reported, as well as gastrointestinal complaints.

TRANSMISSION.

The major culprits behind this whole disease are two species of mosquitoes; the Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti.

Chikungunya disease was first described during an outbreak in southern Tanzania in 1952. According to Dr. Amesh Adalja, MD, an infectious disease specialist in Pittsburgh, Chimpanzees or other animals were probably first infected. The mosquitoes that bit these animals became infected, then bit and infected people.

When a mosquito feeds on an infected person, the mosquito can become infected and can bite and infect others. The disease has been identified in nearly 40 countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe and now, for the first time in the Americas, the virus was found on the Caribbean islands in late 2013. More than 20 Caribbean and South American countries, CDC reports.

TREATMENT.

There is not yet a known treatment for chikungunya infection, nor any vaccine to prevent it. Infected people are put on pain medication to relief them of the pain and also enough rest is advised for relieve other symptoms.

The CDC advises infected patients to take medicines, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, or paracetamol, to relieve fever and pain.

Pending the development of a new vaccine, adhering to preventive measures proves to be best.

According to CDC, most patients feel better within a week. In some people, the joint pain may persist for months. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.

PREVENTION.

*The most effective means of prevention are protection against contact with the disease-carrying mosquitoes.

* Various mosquito control measures could be applied, such as the use of insect repellents substances, clearing the environment off anything that favours easy breed of mosquitoes, and also the use of mosquito nets (for Aedes aegypti which also penetrates indoor).

* The use of pyrethroids, a class of insecticides that often has repellent properties has been advised by health experts. Vaporized pyrethroids like mosquito coils could be used.

* According to the WHO, repellents can be applied to exposed skin or to clothing in strict accordance with product label instructions. Repellents should contain DEET (N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide), IR3535 (3-[N-acetyl-N-butyl]-aminopropionic acid ethyl ester) or icaridin (1-piperidinecarboxylic acid, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-methylpropylester).

* Basic precautions should be taken by people traveling to risk areas and these include use of repellents, wearing long sleeves and pants and ensuring rooms are fitted with screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering.

Chikungunya disease often doesn't result in death and serious complications, but may put people (e.g newborns, diabetics, patients with high blood pressure or heart problems) at risk of more severe disease. It may add to the cause of death in older people.

Facts about Chikungunya disease.