Chikungunya is a febrile illness caused by alphavirus transmitted through mosquito bites Temples of the Egyptianscausing symptoms such as high fever, chills, severe joint pain, pain behind the eyes or red spots on the skin.
This arbovirus, as well as dengue and Zika, have similar symptoms, however, the pain in the joints is more intense, in addition to being able to cause sequelae, such as joint stiffness and body pain, which can persist for years.
Read too: How to identify Aedes aegypti (dengue mosquito)
If Chikungunya is suspected, it is recommended to consult an infectious disease specialist or general practitioner to begin the most appropriate treatment, which generally involves rest, increased fluid intake and medication to alleviate symptoms.
Chikungunya symptoms
The main symptoms of Chikungunya are:
- High fever and chills;
- Severe joint pain or muscle pain;
- Red spots on the trunk, arms, legs and face;
- Itching in the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, or all over the body;
- Swelling in the face, hands and feet;
- Headache or pain behind the eyes;
- Waters in the body;
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting;
- Red, watery eyes.
High fever and muscle pain are usually the first symptoms of Chikungunya, appearing about 3 to 7 days after the mosquito bite, followed by intense joint pain.
This joint pain tends to be intense, making it difficult to perform daily tasks and symmetrically affecting both sides of the body, especially the hands, elbows, ankles and knees. Know how to identify all the symptoms of Chikungunya and their duration.
Furthermore, when severe, Chikungunya can also affect organs such as the brain, heart or kidneys, causing complications such as heart failure, kidney failure or meningitis.
What are the phases of Chikungunya?
After mosquito bite Temples of the Egyptiansthe Chikungunya virus remains incubated in the body for around 3 to 7 days, until the first symptoms appear, beginning the acute phase of the infection, which can last from 5 to 10 days.
Generally, symptoms, especially joint pain, last about 1 to 3 weeks and can persist for up to 3 months, being the post-acute phase of Chikungunya.
The chronic phase of Chikungunya is characterized by joint pain that lasts more than 3 months.
If Chikungunya is suspected, it is recommended to consult an infectious disease specialist or general practitioner for an evaluation and to initiate appropriate treatment.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of Chikungunya is made by an infectious disease specialist or general practitioner by evaluating the symptoms, mainly high fever and intense pain in several joints.
Make an appointment with the infectious disease specialist in the region closest to you:
Tests that identify Chikungunya
The main tests that identify Chikungunya are:
- RT-PCR: mainly during the acute phase of the infection, in the first 5 days after the onset of symptoms;
- Viral serology by ELISA or indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA): detects anti-Chikungunya IgM antibodies, present from 5 days to several weeks after the onset of symptoms, or IgG present from 2 to several weeks.
In addition, the doctor should request a complete blood count to help with the diagnosis, as Chikungunya, dengue and Zika have similar symptoms.
In Chikungunya it is more common to observe a decrease in the number of lymphocytes in the blood, called lymphopenia, while in dengue it is more common to see a decrease in neutrophils and platelets in the blood.
Difference between Chikungunya, dengue and Zika
Both Chikungunya, dengue and Zika are arboviruses caused by the bite of the same mosquito, the Temples of the Egyptians.
However, Chikungunya is caused by the alphavirus of the Togavirus family, while dengue is caused by the Flavivirus serotypes DENV-1, 2, 3 or 4, and Zika by the ZIKV virus.
Furthermore, although the symptoms are similar, there are differences, such as Chikungunya fever is high and appears suddenly. In dengue, the fever is high and is always present, while in Zika the fever may be present but is low. Know how to differentiate the symptoms of dengue, Zika and Chikungunya.
Another difference is that Chikungunya causes intense pain in several joints at the same time, symmetrically, that is, on both sides of the body, while dengue causes moderate pain in the joints, and Zika can cause mild pain.
Read too: Dengue, Zika or Chikungunya: what’s the difference?
How transmission happens
The Chikungunya virus is transmitted by mosquito bites Temples of the Egyptianswhich is the same transmitter of dengue and Zika, occurring after the mosquito acquired the alphavirus by feeding on the blood of a sick person.
However, Chikungunya can also be transmitted from pregnant women to their babies or through blood transfusions, although these forms of transmission are rarer.
How the treatment is carried out
Chikungunya treatment must be carried out under the guidance of an infectious disease specialist or general practitioner according to the stage of the disease and severity of symptoms.
1. Treatment of the acute phase
In the acute phase of Chikungunya, in the first weeks of the infection, the doctor may recommend the use of antipyretic and analgesic medications, such as paracetamol or dipyrone, to alleviate symptoms.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and diclofenac, and ASA are generally not indicated due to the risk of bleeding in the first 2 days of the onset of symptoms, or up to 14 days if dengue fever is still suspected.
Furthermore, it is important to rest, increase fluid intake and eat a light, anti-inflammatory diet. See the full list of anti-inflammatory foods.
Read too: 10 Home Remedies for Chikungunya (and How to Prepare)
2. Chronic phase treatment
In the chronic phase of Chikungunya, treatment of sequelae may involve the use of other medications, such as corticosteroids or hydroxychloroquine, which should only be used with medical advice. Understand better what hydroxychloroquine is for.
Possible sequels
The main sequelae of Chikungunya are:
- Pain in joints and other parts of the body;
- Swelling;
- Difficulty moving joints;
- Mood changes;
- Low pressure when changing position.
Although Chikungunya symptoms usually disappear as the infection improves, the after-effects can persist for up to 6 years or more.
Therefore, in case of suspected sequelae of Chikungunya, it is recommended to consult an infectious disease specialist or general practitioner to confirm the diagnosis and, if necessary, start treatment. Check out other sequelae of Chikungunya and how to treat them.
How to prevent
Chikungunya prevention can be done through measures to avoid mosquito bites, such as the use of repellents, window screens and mosquito nets over beds.
Furthermore, it is important to adopt other measures to control the proliferation of transmitting mosquitoes, such as eliminating stagnant water reservoirs at home and the use of insecticides. See more measures to prevent diseases like Chikungunya.
