What is it?
Chikungunya infection is caused by a virus that is spread by mosquitoes. Chikungunya is spread by the same mosquitoes that transmit dengue: the Dengue mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and the Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). Chikungunya virus occurs in Africa, south-eastern Asia, India, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
What are the symptoms?
- Fever, chills, headache and muscle pain.
- Joint swelling, stiffness and pain, especially in the mornings.
- A rash, usually on the trunk or limbs. This usually lasts for 7-10 days.
- A feeling of tiredness or weakness.
- Symptoms usually develop about 7-10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
- The majority of people infected with the chikungunya virus recover completely in a few weeks. Some may experience symptoms such as tiredness for many weeks and joint pain for many months.
What to expect?
If you are diagnosed with chikungunya, you can consider discussing the following subjects with your doctor:
- Often patients are treated symptomatically and based on the severity of their condition. Is this the case for you as well?
In addition to treatment by your doctor you can try the following things:
- Painkillers might help in relieving pain and fever.
Seek immediate consult with your GP if the following occurs:
- Bleeding tendencies.
- Worsening symptoms.
- Dehydration.