Chikungunya Treatment Home Remedies | Causes, Symptoms and Precautions

What is Chikungunya virus?

Chikungunya is a viral disease mostly caused by a female mosquito named “Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus”. Presently, no specific antiviral drugs or vaccine is introduced but treatment is given primarily to reduce the symptoms. Chikungunya treatment home remedies can be fruitful to reduce the risk of spreading this disease more and more. The virus was first identified in Southern Tanzania in 1952. It is a RNA virus which belongs to alpha virus genus of Togaviridae family. The word ‘Chikungunya’ derived from ‘Ki Makonde language’ which meanings “to become contorted”. Now Chikungunya disease has spread almost all over the world and several cases were reported with symptoms of high fever and joint pains.

Chikungunya is caused by mosquito named 'Aedes Albopictus'. (Photo FotoshopTofs)

Chikungunya Causes

Most commonly, the virus spreads from female Chikungunya mosquitos’ named “Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus” which transfer the virus from human to human when bites them. These mosquitos breed and live around stagnant water and infect people with the virus. Chikungunya virus does not spread through person to person interaction but it only spreads through mosquitos that bite an infected person and transfer virus to uninfected person. These mosquitos bite humans throughout daylight hours, but the peaks of this activity may be in early morning and late afternoon. Once infected mosquito bites anyone, illness starts generally between 4 and 8 days but it can continued for 2 – 12 days.

Chikungunya Symptoms

The main symptoms of Chikungunya are high fever, joints and muscles pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. Chikungunya can also cause mouth ulcers, loss of taste and conjunctivitis. As Chikungunya virus symptoms are same like as dengue and other viruses, so it is often difficult to diagnose in areas where dengue is common. Generally, symptoms of Chikungunya last for 2 – 3 days and Chikungunya virus remains in human body for 5 – 7 days.

Chikungunya Diagnosis

As the symptoms of Chikungunya are same like as Dengue or other viruses, so it is very difficult to diagnose the disease without following laboratory tests:

• Samples collected from patients after the beginning of symptoms must be tested by both Serological and Virological methods (RT-PCR).

• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) may identify the manifestation of lgM and lgG anti-Chikungunya immunoglobulin (Ig). The lgM antibody levels are highest 3 to 5 weeks after the onset of sickness and continue for about 2 months.

Chikungunya Precautions

Mosquitoes’ breeding vicinity is a major risk factor for wide-spreading Chikungunya and other viruses. So special attention to be given on natural and artificial water filled containers to control and reduce mosquitos’ breeding. Following measures must be taken to encounter the disease especially in mosquito infected areas:

• Always wear long sleeved shirt, long pants, socks and shoes.

• Take special care in daylights especially at early morning and at evening.

• Keep good hygiene and extra precaution while traveling.

• Diminish the mosquitos breeding places like stagnant water, drains and garbage landfills.

• Use mosquito repellent for uncovered skin to prevent it from mosquito bites.

• Don’t travel to areas where Chikungunya virus is more common.

Chikungunya Treatment

Treatment of Chikungunya is quite difficult in those areas where Dengue virus is prevalent due to same symptoms but laboratory test is important to diagnose the disease. Hence, there is no specific antiviral drug treatment or vaccine for Chikungunya. Primarily, treatment is given to reduce the symptoms; for example, treatment for Chikungunya joint pain by using Anti-Pyretic, best Painkillers and Fluids.

Chikungunya Treatment Home Remedies

Home remedies for Chikungunya may be successful if following steps are taken by the patients:

• Drink sufficient fluids (juices and water) to prevent body from dehydration due to vomiting and high fever.

• Avoid fatigue factors, take a good rest and be relaxed.

• Take non-Aspirin Analgesics such as Paracetamol separately from the fluids.

• Get immediate treatment for fever and joints pain from nearby hospital.

• Don’t use pain relievers like Aspirin, Ibuprofen or Naproxen Sodium etc. as Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding and exacerbate the infection.

• Rush to the nearest hospital for treatment as soon as possible.