Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya Fever

A dengue like disease caused by a group A virus.

Causative organism

Aedes aegypt, Ades albopictus female mosquitoes

Mode of transmission –Transmitted from human to human by the bites of infected female mosquitoes.

Incubation period - 4 to 7 days

Clinical manifestations

·  High fever with chills

·  Severe articular pains in the limbs and spinal column.

·  Arthralagia

·  Anorexia

·  Conjunctivitis

·  Coffee-coloured vomiting

·  Epistaxis

·  Arthropathy : pain, swelling and stiffness, especially of the meta carpophalanges wrist Elbow, shoulder, knee, ankle and metatarsal joints.

Diagnosis

Serological tests: ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assays)

Complications

·  Dementia

·  Cerebral problems

·  Kidney disorders

·  Paralysis

Control measures

·  The Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds in clean water.

·  All water containers should be covered, to eliminate mosquito from the breeding places.

·  Abate is increasingly used as a larvicide.

·  Aerosol spray of ultra low volume (ULV) quantities of malathion or sumithion (250 ml / hectare) has been found to be effective in interrupting transmission and stopping

·  Epidemics of dengue haemorrhagic fever.

Treatment

·  Analgesics

·  Anti – pyretics

·  Fluids

Prevention of communicable diseases

Communicable diseases can be prevented by appropriate preventive measures which include:

·  Good site planning

·  Provision of basic clinical services

·  Provision of appropriate shelter

·  Clean water supply

·  Sanitation

·  Mass vaccination against specific diseases

·  Regular and sufficient food supply

·  Control of vectors

·  Health education specific protection. Eg. Immunization chemoprophylaxis