Chikungunya disease, mainly caused by a mosquito, leads to high fever and joint pains. It is first noticed in 1952 at the southern Tanzania pandemic. The name “chikungunya” came from the south Tanzania language word known as Kimakonde, which means “to become contorted,” it is said that the people will suffer joint pain with hunched appearance. It is mainly because of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus. It comes from the family of Togaviridae that belongs to the alphavirus type.
Chikungunya will spread to human beings when they got an infected bite from female mosquitoes. Some of the common mosquitoes that are involved are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Mostly this kind of mosquito will spread other mosquito-related diseases like dengue. They have vigorously spread the disease during all daylight. Even they are active only in the early morning and late afternoon.
Mainly India, Asia, and Africa are mostly affected by this disease, although European and American regions record very few cases.
Symptoms:
- The symptoms of Chikungunya will appear between 4-5 days or in a week after the mosquito bite.
- It is a fatal disease.
- Some of the symptoms are self-limiting and will stay up to 2-3 days.
- The disease starts with a sign of high fever, followed by joint pain.
- Some other symptoms are muscle pain, headache, and rashes.
Treatment:
- There is no particular antivirus drug available to treat for Chikungunya.
- There is NO Vaccination available.
- The significant achievement for this disease can cure by antipyretic medications that reduce fever.
- Primary treatment will give relief from joint pain and other symptoms.
Prevention:
- To prevent chikungunya pandemic, avoid skin exposing clothes during day time, using repellents can be applied to uncovered skin or clothing.
- Those who are sleeping in the day time, mainly children and older adults should need extra care. Use mosquito coil, and insecticide vaporizers may also prevent from indoor mosquito biting.
- Find the Breeding source inside and outside the house (e.g., Water containers, vessels, tires, etc.), and make adequate measures to cover it by cloths to prevent the mosquito breeding.