Chikungunya: A Disease Transmitted by Aedes Mosquitoes
Chikungunya is a disease caused by the chikungunya virus, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. It is not contagious or spread from person to person. The carrier mosquitoes include both the domestic Aedes aegypti and the garden Aedes albopictus. Therefore, when bitten by an infected Aedes mosquito, a person will contract the virus and show symptoms of the disease.
What Symptoms Indicate a Risk of Chikungunya?
- High fever over 38.5 degrees Celsius, usually appearing 5-7 days after being bitten by a mosquito
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Red rash
- Red eyes
Clear Distinction… Is It Chikungunya or Dengue Fever?
It is important to understand that both diseases have early symptoms that are quite similar, such as fever, muscle pain, dizziness, and fatigue. If a patient presents with these symptoms, the definitive way to distinguish between the two diseases is through laboratory tests or PCR, which can provide accurate results within 1-2 days. However, the general symptoms of both diseases have similarities and differences as follows:
|
Chikungunya |
Dengue Fever |
| Sudden high fever for 2-3 days | Sustained high fever for 5-10 days |
| Muscle pain, dizziness | Muscle pain, dizziness |
| Fatigue | Fatigue |
| Joint pain | Joint pain is usually not present |
| Red rash and red eyes | Red rash and red eyes may occur in some cases |
| Virus does not cause plasma leakage outside blood vessels | May have low platelet count due to plasma leakage outside blood vessels |
| Not life-threatening but may cause chronic joint pain affecting quality of life | Can be life-threatening |
| No vaccine available | Vaccine available |
How to Treat Chikungunya?
Currently, there is no specific medication for chikungunya. Doctors treat symptoms and recommend that patients get plenty of rest and drink enough fluids. Patients may experience joint pain for at least 2 weeks, but in some cases, chronic pain can last from 3 months up to 1 year.
How to Take Care of Yourself to Reduce the Risk of Chikungunya?
Besides the simple method of “preventing mosquito bites,” additional prevention can be done by
- Eliminating Aedes mosquito breeding sites inside and around the house
- Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent mosquito bites
- Wearing light-colored clothing to reduce the risk of mosquito bites
- Applying lotion containing mosquito repellent or spraying mosquito repellent
