The most common symptoms of Chikungunya are high fever, swelling and intense pain in the joints, appearance of red spots on the skin, muscle pain and excessive tiredness that appear after a mosquito bite. Temples of the Egyptians infected by alphavirus.
Symptoms of the acute phase of Chikungunya normally last around 14 days, but in some cases it is possible for them to last for more than 3 months, characterizing the chronic phase of the infection with other symptoms, such as hair loss, sleep problems, numbness in some body parts and blurred vision, for example.
Since there is no specific treatment for Chikungunya, it is necessary for the body to eliminate the virus, and treatment is only indicated to alleviate symptoms. Furthermore, as there is no vaccine against the disease, the most reliable way to prevent the disease is to avoid mosquito bites. Check out some tips to avoid mosquito bites.
Chikungunya symptoms
The main symptoms of Chikungunya are:
- High fever, above 39º C that appears suddenly, and chills;
- Severe joint pain and muscle pain;
- Swelling in the joints, in the same places where there is pain;
- Small red spots on the skin that appear on the trunk and all over the body, including the palms of the hands and soles of the feet;
- Back pain or sore throat;
- Itching all over the body or just on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, which may cause flaking in these areas;
- Constant headache;
- Waters all over the body;
- Pain behind the eyes;
- Excessive tiredness;
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting;
- Redness in the eyes and increased sensitivity to light.
In women, red spots appear on the body, vomiting, bleeding and wounds in the mouth, while in men and older people, the most common is pain and swelling in the joints and fever that can last for several days.
These symptoms may appear in the acute phase of Chikungunya, starting approximately 3 to 7 days after the mosquito bite. Temples of the Egyptians. Know how to identify the mosquito Temples of the Egyptians.
Don’t ignore your symptoms!
The main symptoms of chronic Chikungunya are:
- Joint pain;
- Loss of hair;
- Sensation of numbness in some regions of the body;
- Cold hands and white or purplish fingertips, called Raynaud’s phenomenon;
- Sleep disturbances;
- Memory and concentration difficulties;
- Cloudy or blurred vision;
- Depression.
The chronic phase of Chikungunya is characterized by the persistence of symptoms for more than 3 months, mainly joint pain, which can last up to 6 years.
In these cases, it may be necessary to use medication to treat these and other symptoms, in addition to physiotherapy sessions to relieve pain and improve movement.
Severity symptoms
In rare cases, Chikungunya manifests itself without fever and joint pain, but the following changes may appear that indicate that the disease is serious and the person may need hospitalization:
- In the nervous system: convulsions, Guillain-barré syndrome (characterized by loss of strength in muscles), loss of movement with arms or legs, tingling;
- In the eyes: optical inflammation, in the iris or retina, which can become serious and compromise vision;
- In the heart: heart failure, arrhythmia and pericarditis;
- The flames: darkening of certain areas, appearance of blisters or ulcers similar to canker sores;
- In the kidneys: inflammation and kidney failure.
- Other complications: blood disorders, pneumonia, respiratory failure, hepatitis, pancreatitis, adrenal insufficiency and increase or decrease in antidiuretic hormone.
These symptoms are rare but can occur in some people and are caused by the virus itself, the response of the person’s immune system or due to the use of medications.
How long do symptoms last
In the vast majority of cases, symptoms of the acute phase of Chikungunya disappear after 14 days or even sooner if adequate treatment is started with rest and medication to alleviate discomfort.
However, there are also reports from several people in which some symptoms persisted for more than 3 months, characterizing a chronic phase of the disease.
Read too: Dengue, Zika or Chikungunya: what’s the difference?
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of Chikungunya is initially made by a general practitioner or infectious disease specialist through evaluation of symptoms and blood tests.
To confirm the infection, the doctor must request a molecular test, to check the presence of the virus in circulation, or a serological test, to assess the presence of antibodies produced by the body against the infection. See more details about the diagnosis of Chikungunya.
How the treatment is carried out
Treatment usually lasts around 15 days and involves the use of analgesic medications, such as paracetamol, to relieve fever, fatigue and headache.
In cases of extreme pain, the doctor may recommend the use of other, stronger medications against pain and inflammation. However, it is not recommended to take medication without a prescription, as it can cause serious changes, such as medical hepatitis. See more details about Chikungunya treatment.
In addition to medication, other important tips are placing cold compresses on your joints to relieve swelling and discomfort, as well as drinking fluids and resting to allow the body to recover more easily.
Chikungunya and pregnancy
The symptoms and treatment during pregnancy are the same but the disease can pass to the baby during birth, with a 50% risk of the baby being infected, however, very rarely miscarriage can occur.
Chikungunya in Babies
Symptoms of Chikungunya in babies are mainly high fever, joint pain, muscle pain, swelling in the extremities of the hands and feet, or weakness.
In babies, skin symptoms can be more serious, with skin rashes and skin blisters that can rupture, increasing the risk of dehydration and infections. Understand what skin rash is and symptoms.
In addition, it is possible to observe signs in the baby, such as irritability, frequent and persistent crying, or not wanting to breastfeed. Despite the child’s lack of appetite, they can continue to be breastfed because the virus does not pass through breast milk.
Chikungunya fever in newborn babies can be serious leading to serious complications because the central nervous system can be affected with the possibility of convulsions, meningoencephalitis, cerebral edema, intracranial hemorrhage. Hemorrhages and heart involvement with ventricular dysfunction and pericarditis may also occur.
In children under 2 years of age, the doctor may decide that the child is admitted to the hospital for treatment.
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