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Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans
by the bite of infected Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV)
is a member of the genus Alphavirus,
in the family Togaviridae.
CHIKV was first isolated from the blood of a febrile patient in Tanzania in
1953, and has since been identified repeatedly in west, central and southern
Africa and many areas of Asia, and has been cited as the cause of numerous
human epidemics in those areas since that time. The virus circulates
throughout much of Africa, with transmission thought to occur mainly between
mosquitoes and monkeys.
Symptoms of Chikungunya
includes fever, debilitating arthralgia (joint pain), swelling of joints, stiffness,
myalgia (muscular pain), headache, fatigue (weakness), nausea, vomiting and rash.
The incubation period (time from infection to illness) can
be 2-12 days, but is usually 3-7 days. "Silent" CHIKV infections (infections without
illness) do occur; but how commonly this happens is not yet known.
Acute chikungunya fever
typically lasts a few days to a couple of weeks, but some patients have prolonged fatigue lasting several weeks.
Additionally, some patients have reported incapacitating joint pain, or arthritis which
may last for weeks or months. The prolonged joint pain associated with CHIKV is
not typical of dengue. Co circulation of dengue fever in many areas may mean that chikungunya
fever cases are sometimes clinically misdiagnosed as dengue infections,
therefore the incidence of chikungunya fever could be much higher than what has been
previously reported. No deaths, neuro-invasive cases, or hemorrhagic cases related
to CHIKV infection have been conclusively documented in the scientific
literature.
CHIKV infection (whether clinical or silent) is thought to
confer life-long immunity.
CHIKV is spread
by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they
feed on a person infected with CHIKV. Monkeys, and possibly other wild
animals, may also serve as reservoirs of the virus. Infected mosquitoes can
then spread the virus to other humans when they bite. Aedes aegypti
(the yellow fever mosquito), a household container breeder and aggressive
daytime biter which is attracted to humans, is the primary vector of CHIKV
to humans. Aedes albopictus (the Asian tiger mosquito) may also play
a role in human transmission is Asia, and various forest-dwelling mosquito
species in Africa have been found to be infected with the virus.
No specific treatment in
conventional medicine but effective curative and preventive treatment in
homeopathy
In conventional system of medicine, no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for chikungunya
fever is available, treatment is
symptomatic - rest, fluids, and analgesics (pain killers) may relieve
symptoms of fever and pain. But Homeopathy has very effective treatment for
Chikungunya. Also prevention can be achieved by administering Homeopathic
"Genus Epidemicus". Homeopathic medicines are equally
effective for post-chikungunya complaints like weakness, stiffness in
joints, muscles pain etc. Infected persons should be protected from further mosquito
exposure (staying indoors and/or under a mosquito net during the first few
days of illness) so that they can't contribute to the transmission cycle.
Know more about Curative and Preventive
Homeopathy in Chikungunya.
The best way to avoid CHIKV infection is to prevent mosquito
bites. In addition we strongly recommend patients in our clinic to
have "Homeopathic Genus Epidemicus" for double protection.
Prevention tips:
• Use insect repellent
on exposed skin.
• Wear long sleeves and
pants (ideally treat clothes with permethrin or another repellent).
• Have secure screens
on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
• Get rid of mosquito
breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes
and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so
water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they
aren't being used.
• Additionally, a
person with chikungunya fever or dengue should limit their exposure to mosquito bites in order to avoid further
spreading the infection. The person should stay indoors or under a mosquito net.
Know more about Curative and Preventive
Homeopathy in Chikungunya.
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