How familiar are you with chikungunya virus?
Chikungunya virus(Chikungunya) infects humans through mosquito bites and causes fever and joint pain.... This virus is rarely fatal, but its acute form can affect a person's body for a long time and leave painful symptoms.... Currently, there is no specific treatment or vaccine. There is no way to prevent Chikungunya.
So, for timely diagnosis of the disease, stay with GCORP LLC in this article to tell you what is Chikungunya virus and what are its symptoms?
What is chikungunya?..
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes.. The name "chikungunya" comes from a word in the Makund language, the language of the people of Tanzania, which means to bend something and refers to the unusual appearance of people who suffer from joint pain.. Africa, Asia, Europe and the Indo-Pacific region have been identified, but local transmission of the virus was first reported in 2013 in the sea The Caribbean was identified.
Since then, more than 1.7 million suspected cases of chikungunya have been reported in the Caribbean islands, Latin American countries and the United States.. Canada and Mexico have also reported cases.. Although this disease is not very common in Iran, you should still be careful about Aedes mosquitoes.. because these mosquitoes have been seen in areas of the eastern, southern and southern borders of Iran by a person infected with this disease.. They can make healthy people sick... Done Give.Chikungunya symptoms
Typically, the first symptom of chikungunya is fever, followed by a rash... After being bitten by an infected mosquito, illness usually begins 4 to 8 days later, but can be anywhere from 2 to 12 days.... These symptoms include the following:
- Sudden and severe fever
- joint pain
- Headache Myalgia or muscle pain Arthritis
- Conjunctivitis
- Nausea
- vomiting
- Skin rash
Chikungunya virus detection method
If you have recently returned from an area that has transmitted the virus and are experiencing fever and joint pain, your doctor may recommend a series of blood tests to confirm the virus or antibodies.... Several methods can be used to diagnose chikungunya virus infection.
Serological tests, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), may confirm the presence of antibodies against the virus. Chikungunya virus antibodies usually develop late in the first week of illness. IgM antibody levels are highest three to five weeks after illness onset and persist for about two months.
The virus may be detected directly in the blood within the first few days of infection.. Samples collected during the first week of illness are tested by both serological and virological methods.. Blood tests can also look for viruses such as dengue and Zika, which have similar symptoms.. Results are usually ready in 4 to 14 days.
Risk factors for chikungunya virus
Most patients recover completely from the infection, but in some cases, joint pain may persist for months or even years.... In some patients, rheumatologic symptoms such as polyarthritis, polyarthritis, tenosynovitis, or Raynaud's syndrome are observed months after the acute illness.. Studies have reported that 5 to 80 percent of patients experience joint pain per month or per year after the illness. Prolonged fatigue. The person is likely to be safe from future infections after recovery.
Severe cases and death from chikungunya are very rare... But the people most at risk for the disease are infants who are affected at birth....In addition, adults over 65 and people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease are also at risk.
Treatment Chikungunya virus
There is no specific antiviral medication for chikungunya, so most treatment involves relieving symptoms. The following are commonly prescribed:
- Antipyretic drug to reduce fever
- analgesic to relieve pain and reduce fever
- Drink plenty of fluids
Similarities between chikungunya fever and dengue fever
This virus is similar to dengue fever, which happens to be common in the same areas.. So in these areas, patients with suspected chikungunya should avoid aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs until they test negative for dengue.. because these drugs can increase the risk of internal bleeding in dengue patients.
Once chikungunya disease is diagnosed, patients with persistent joint pain are advised to use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, including topical medications...Physiotherapy can help reduce pain symptoms.
Learn more: What is Lyme disease?
Chikungunya virus prevention
There is currently no vaccine or preventive medicine for chikungunya, so the best way to prevent infection is to avoid mosquito bites.... But potential vaccines are being evaluated in clinical trials.
As a result, people traveling to high-risk areas should take precautions, including:
- Wear long-sleeved clothes, long pants, and other clothing that minimizes mosquito contact with the skin.
- Use insect repellent on skin or clothing.
- Make sure that the indoor spaces have suitable curtains and nets to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
- If you sleep during the day, use a mosquito net and apply insecticide on the bed.
- If you spend a lot of time outdoors in areas with mosquitoes, in addition to using gloves or repellent, use a net over your face and neck.
- Avoid traveling to areas where the prevalence of chikungunya is high.
Since there is no specific treatment, the best way to prevent chikungunya is to reduce these places.. Reducing the number of places where mosquitoes breed around your home can significantly reduce their population... Some simple measures include:
- Drainage containers, such as saucers, buckets and rain gutters
- The tanks that supply domestic water are usually not drainable, you should be careful not to gather mosquitoes around these tanks.
- Throw away the old tires that are in the yard or around the house.
- Keep garbage in closed plastic bags and other closed containers.
- If you test positive, you should be careful to avoid mosquito bites during the first week of your illness...that is when the virus is transmitted to a mosquito and then to another person.
Conclusion
If you have recently traveled to tropical and subtropical areas and think you have chikungunya, be sure to see an infectious disease doctor.. After asking a few questions, the doctor will prescribe a blood test.... You can also contact GCORP LLC doctors for online consultations and appointments.
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