Nov 09
11
Chikungunya
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Chikungunya Facts
- Chikungunya is a viral disease.
- Chikungunya is caused by an Arborvirus, belongs to the genus Alphavirus under the Togaviridae family.
- The virus is transmitted to human by infected Aedes mosquitoes, Aedes albopictus in the rural area and Aedes aegypti in the urban area.
- The urban outbreaks are sporadic but explosive in nature.
- It then disappears and reappears at irregular intervals.
- The incubation period of the disease is 2 to 4 days.
- The symptoms is less severe and fewer in children than adults.
- Infected patients manifest sudden onset of fever, chills, severe arthralgia and headache.
- Patients also have maculopapular rash mostly in trunk.
- Migratory polyarthritis (commonly swelling and reddening) occurs in 70 % of cases and mainly affected the small joints.
- They may also manifest photophobia, anorexia, nausea, conjunctival injection and abdominal pain.
- The acute illness usually last for 5 to 7 days.
- Chikungunya has not been reported causing severe haemorrhagic manifestation or death.
- Older patients usually continue to suffer recurrent joint pain and effusion for several years.
- Chikungunya infection may be mistaken for dengue and / or West Nile disease.
- Provisional diagnosis is often made based on the clinical features.
- Acute or viraemic phase serum samples collected within 2 to 4 days of onset have yielded positive virus isolates and detection of viral nucleic acids.
- Paired sera drawn 1 to 3 weeks apart will demonstrate rising antibody titre.
- Rapid diagnosis can be used to detect Chikungunya antibody (IgM) after 5 days of onset i.e. ELISA, immunofluorescene etc.
- Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests may yield diagnoses based on samples without detectable antibodies and may also provide genetic information of the virus.
- The disease is self-limiting.
- There is no specific treatment or vaccine for Chikungunya, patients are only given symptomatic or supportive treatment.
- To avoid further transmission, patients who is in the viraemic phase (first 4 days of onset) should be protected from mosquito bites especially from Aedes species.
- Aedes mosquito feeding time is during dawn (5.00 am to 8.00 am) and dust (5.00 pm to 8.00 pm).
I think most people will concern about the progress of disease and the treatment.. only the medical field ppl will like to know other details.. hehe
So, Chikungunya is a viral disease with symptoms almost same like Dengue Fever with no specific treatment..
From Dr Zul: ” Dulu saya medical student pun kena dengue, admit buat apa? balik minum banyak banyak air la.. masuk ward pun IV drip je~”
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