General Information About Chikungunya Virus
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
Meaning 'to become contorted' in African languages, it is a mosquito-borne viral disease that causes patients to double over with joint pain upon infection.
It is transmitted through the blood via the bites of infected Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes (typically during daylight hours). It is not transmitted from person to person through respiration.
3 to 7 days after the mosquito bite, a sudden high fever reaching 39 degrees Celsius and extremely severe, unbearable joint pain in small joints such as the hands, wrists, and ankles begin. Skin rashes may also appear.
Although transmitted by the same mosquitoes; bleeding and muscle pain are prominent in Dengue fever, the Zika virus causes birth defects in pregnant women, whereas Chikungunya predominantly affects the joints.
Diagnosis is made via PCR tests looking for the virus's genetic material in the blood within the first few days of symptom onset, or through serology tests detecting antibodies produced against the virus later on.
There is currently no specific antiviral drug to kill the virus or a widely available definitive vaccine. Treatment consists of rest, adequate fluid intake, and pain relievers (paracetamol/NSAIDs) prescribed to alleviate severe joint pain.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
