Identifying Chikungunya: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

2023-09-09 06:00:41

Chikungunya is a viral disease, spread mainly by mosquitoes of the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus genera. If you have recently traveled to an area where chikungunya is endemic or reside in one, here is how to identify if you might have this disease.

1. Sudden onset of fever

The first sign of chikungunya is usually sudden onset fever. If you notice a high temperature that seems to come out of nowhere, it might be a warning sign.

2. Severe joint pain

One of the most distinctive symptoms of this disease is severe joint painwhich can be so severe that it is disabling. This pain can last for a few days to several months, even years.

3. Other common symptoms

Besides fever and joint pain, other symptoms may include:

Joint swelling
Muscle aches
Headache
Nausea
Fatigue
Rashes

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Symptoms of chikungunya can overlap with other viral infections, including dengue and Zika virus. In the absence of severe joint pain, the disease may even go unnoticed.

4. Rare but serious complications of chikunguya

In some cases, chikungunya can cause more serious complications, such as eye, neurological and cardiac disorders. Older individuals and newborns are more likely to have severe forms of the disease. Once cured, however, most patients are immune to future infections.

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