Recognize Chikungunya Fever Symptoms

Chikungunya virus infection can cause debilitating illness. Spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, chikungunya fever cases are sometimes clinically misdiagnosed as dengue infections.

Steps

 * 1) Recognize the symptoms of chikungunya fever. Look for:
 * 2) *Fever.
 * 3) *Persistent headache.
 * 4) *Nausea.
 * 5) *Vomiting.
 * 6) *Muscle pains.
 * 7) *Joint pain.
 * 8) *Fatigue, lethargy, and weakness.
 * 9) *Rash.
 * 10) Be aware that some infected persons have reported disabling joint pain, or arthritis lasting for weeks or even months.
 * 11) Know that the incubation period for the virus can be 2-12 days, but is normally 3-7 days.
 * 12) Understand that laboratory diagnosis of viruses transmitted by arthropods is usually done by testing of serum or cerebrospinal fluid to detect virus-specific neutralizing antibodies.
 * 13) Have knowledge that there is no evidence that the virus is transmitted to an infant through breast milk from an infected mother.

Tips

 * Treatment is symptomatic, meaning the symptoms of the infection are treated, as the infection itself has no known cure. This can include:
 * Bed rest.
 * Drinking plenty of fluids.
 * Medication to relieve symptoms of fever and aching.
 * The use of aspirin should be avoided if you have the infection.
 * Infected persons should be protected from further mosquito exposure during the first few days of their illness. If they are bitten by a mosquito, the cycle will continue if/when the now-infected mosquito then bites someone else.
 * The best way to prevent chikungunya virus infection is to avoid mosquito bites. Take all the necessary precautions you normally would to avoid mosquitoes.

Warnings

 * There are rare reports of first trimester abortions occurring after a chikungunya infection.
 * There is no vaccine or preventive drug currently available for the chikungunya virus.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Prevent Chikungunya Fever
 * How to Prevent Getting Dengue Fever
 * How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes
 * How to Avoid Mosquito Bites

Sources and Citations

 * http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/Chikungunya/CH_Diagnostic.html
 * http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/Chikungunya/CH_SymptomsTreatment.html
 * http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/Chikungunya/CH_FactSheet.html