Chikungunya

Chikungunya is a viral disease that has crossed geographical boundaries and has infected several millions of individuals around the globe. Chikungunya is characterized by high grade fevers, crippling pains in the joints, accompanied by a maculopapular rash, and anyone who suffers from it is expected to be bedridden for weeks if not months. The disease is quite rare, and its chances of mortality are so slim that they are negligible. Nevertheless, this illness takes toll to an individual’s lifestyles. As Chikungunya is an emerging disease worldwide, it is crucial to identify Chikungunya prone areas, modes of transmission, and measures put in place to curb these transmission rates.

This review will first, define what Chikungunya is, where it is found, how it is transmitted, its signs and symptoms, and prevention of the virus.

What is Chikungunya?

Chikungunya is a viral disease stemming from a virus called Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) that is of the Alphavirus genus of the Togaviridae family. The word ‘Chikungunya’ comes from a Makonde word. The Makonde are the inhabitants of Tanzania and Mozambique who speak that language, and it translates too; “that which bends up.” This is a term used to describe the position that people with extreme pain in their joints take up.

The virus was first discovered in Tanzania in 1952 and over the years, the virus has migrated to other continents and caused a number of tropical and subtropical countries outbreaks. Chikungunya in itself is not one of the diseases that is known to kill people. However, it does have chronic result regular ones even more so the pains in the joints. In some cases, those may last for months.

Where is Chikungunya Found?

Chikungunya is a disease that occurs mainly in the tropics and subtropics where the mosquitoes causing the disease are available. Such diseases are broadly distributed in Africa, Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and lately the Americas including the Caribbean and parts of North and South America. The increase of Chikungunya has been due to various factors including movement or migration of people, dispersion of Aedes mosquitoes, and urbanization.

Asia and Africa

Chikungunya was first discovered in Africa during the 1950s, it is still endemic in some regions of the continent. Africa and Asia experienced outbreaks of the disease a few decades after its recognition. India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand are among the countries where significant outbreaks have targeted and sickened tens of thousands of people at once. In these regions, the Chikungunya transmission cycle is supported by the local Rhys, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus which are the competent vectors of the disease.

The Americas

Chikungunya fever is a relatively new concern for the inhabitants of the Americas. Chikungunya showed its biggest impact in the Caribbean region around the year 2013, and almost immediately the next year 2014 Chikungunya cases were already recorded in a number of countries Central and South America including Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Brazil. This virus is still prevalent in the area, and there are a few outbreaks that are seen in many countries such as Mexico, Venezuela and Colombia. Given the urban and semi-urban landscapes in the Americas, the presence of the Chikungunya transmitting Aedes mosquito has also aided in the spread of the disease.

Europe and the Pacific Islands

Chikungunya is not very prevalent in Europe, there are some incidence cases of local transmission especially in countries such as France and Italy. Another region that has witnessed Chikungunya cases is the Pacific Islands especially in Fiji, French Polynesia and New Caledonia which have seen significant outbreaks of the virus. Due to increased globalization, the chances of Chikungunya getting into new regions are on the rise and more nations are now screening their mosquitoes for the vector Chikungunya virus.

How is Chikungunya Spread?

Chikungunya is mostly transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Chikungunya mosquito gets chikungunya virus when his or her gets bitten by a chikungunya virus carrying individual. After some time, the virus incubates within the mosquito, and then the mosquito can infect other individuals by biting them. There is no human-to-human direct transmission of this virus needs a mosquito vector to spread the infection.

The Role of Mosquitoes

The Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are the emerging vectors of Chikungunya. These mosquitoes bite during the day; however, they are highly active in the early morning and late afternoon hours. They are vigorous container breeders, residing in man modified environments with objects that collect water, such as Empty flowerpots, worn out tires, water storage tanks and many others.

When a mosquito bites a contagious person, it becomes infected in the process and takes the virus into its body which remains there for about 8-12 days. The mosquito can begin to spread the virus in those whom it bites after this resting stage. This mode of transmission carried out by a particular species of mosquitoes is capable of translocating the virus across human populations particularly in wet seasons within the tropics where mosquitoes are plenty.

No Human to Human Transmission

Human transmission of Chikungunya is to be avoided at all costs, since the infection is not passed from one individual to another, not even from a cough or by touching. The virus cannot be acquired through contact with an infected person; whether by touching, coughing, or any other forms of interactions. Rather, the infection is passed on a vector, mosquitoes that transport the devious virus to and from their victims. Consequently, this means that in order to avert the incidences of Chikungunya, it will be necessary to implement measures aimed at controlling the population of mosquitoes.

Chikungunya Symptoms

Chikungunya virus infection usually manifests to the patient between 4-7 days from the day the patient was bitten by an infected mosquito. The symptoms of Chikungunya are as follows:

Chikungunya Risk Factors

Chikungunya is rarely deadly, nonetheless, certain risk categories such as the elderly, young children, and individuals with comorbidities may suffer more complicated illnesses. Some of these complications may include:

1. Prolonged Joint Pain

Chikungunya related joint pains may heal after several weeks or months but may in some cases result in long term deformity.

2. Neurological manifestations

In some cases, neurological disorders such as coma, meningitis or Guillain-Barre syndrome may occur as complications of Chikungunya disease.

3. Complications associated with bleeding

On top of that, in extreme cases of Chikungunya, it can lead to complications associated with bleeding such as, much rarer, thrombocytopenia, which usually happens with diseases involving significant immunosuppression.

While infection lasts only a week for others, this regard of an ailment that can also extend for weeks or months becomes a challenge to some.

Chikungunya Diagnosis

Chikungunya is a disease that is diagnosed with the aid of fever, joint pain, rash and other clinical symptoms and also through laboratory confirmation of chikungunya virus. In blood tests, the genetic material (RNA) of the virus is detected or antibodies produced by the body in response to the infection are substantiated. The tests are most reliable during the first week of illness.

It becomes imperative to use laboratory confirmation of the Chikungunya virus in patients with similar signs such as Dengue and Zika as they also have similar mosquito borne diseases.

Chikungunya Treatment

At the moment, Chikungunya has no specific antiviral treatment. The treatment mainly consists of alleviation of symptoms and supportive care. Some of the treatment measures are:

Pain Relief

Medications such as Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), for example ibuprofen and acetaminophen are useful for eliminating high fever, and relieving joint swelling along with pain. Concisely, Para-arthritis Corticosteroids are used to relieve very acute pain and chronic inflammation only in specific cases.

Stay Hydrated

In this regard, especially since such symptoms as fever accompanied by vomiting can cause loss of body fluids, it is very essential to maintain a correct level of fluid intake.

Rest

Getting enough power and energy helps the system to heal from the sickness and beat the tiredness as well.

Chikungunya Prevention

As the main cause of illness with Chikungunya virus is molasses, the best option is to avoid them. The following are some recommendations on how to prevent Chikungunya infection:

Mosquito Control

Clear the standing water in the vicinity of your house, for instance, even in flower pots, buckets, and old tires, if any. Mosquitoes locate places to reproduce in still waters; prone as those are more the chances of infection its breeds are early controlled.

Insect Repellents

Apply skin on areas not covered by clothing insect repellents with DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus towards off mosquitoes.

Mosquito Nets and Screens

If one is sleeping in a mosquito prevalent area, it is advised to sleep under a mosquito net, otherwise avoid employing one. Windows and doors buy screens to prevent entry of mosquitoes indoors.

Wear Protective Clothing

Outdoor covering days, as a high tendency of mosquito presence are experienced should have long sleeves shirts, long pants, and socks.

Conclusion

Chikungunya is a febrile illness caused by a virus that results in severe fever and painful aching joints and joints and symptoms that can persist for an extended period. The disease is primarily found in tropical and subtropical countries, but many people and mosquitoes have helped the disease to disperse worldwide. Most females of the species Aedes who are infected with the virus transmit it to humans by biting them; there is no human-to-human contact at all.

While Chikungunya may not have an explicit cure, the aches and pains associated with it can be alleviated with the help of pain relief medication, water intake, and sleep. The most efficacious manner of safeguarding oneself from this disease is to avoid mosquito bites. As the movement of people across all borders increases together with urbanization, the need to create and provide education with regard to Chikungunya and, to emphasize taking measures against its ulcers, becomes the key in enhanced management of its spread Thus, Public Health Education is vital.

In case you or anyone else is in an area that has a high prevalence of Chikungunya, it’s necessary to protect yourself from being bitten by the mosquitoes and if need be, go visit the doctor when any signs and symptoms of the disease are presenting.