Is chikungunya transmitted from human to human?
Because chikungunya is not transmitted from human to human, preventive measures are focused on protection from infected mosquitoes.
What is chikungunya in Jamaica?
In Jamaica, it is commonly called “Chik-V”. Chikungunya is a viral disease and is transmitted from human to human by the bites of infected female mosquitoes. Most commonly, the mosquitoes involved are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, two species which can also transmit other mosquito-borne viruses, including dengue.
What is the difference between dengue and chikungunya?
They are both viral infections spread by the Aedes mosquito (in contrast to the Anopheles mosquito, which is associated with malaria). However, they are caused by different forms of virus; chikungunya is caused by a Togaviridae alphavirus, while dengue is caused by a Flavirideae flavivirus.
How long does the chikungunya pain last?
Most patients feel better within a week. In some people, the joint pain may persist for months. People at risk for more severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults (≥65 years), and people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease.
How do you get rid of joint pain from chikungunya?
Generally, supportive therapy is recommended to ease the symptoms and some anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen, paracetamol can be of great help. Acetaminophen drug can be used to relieve pain and fever. Taking Acetaminophen will help ease the symptoms and relives the patient from joint pain.
Can chikungunya be cured without medication?
Fever is one of the many symptoms of chikungunya, caused by bite of infected mosquitoes followed by severe joint pain. The signs and symptoms of chikungunya generally appear within two to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. There is no effective antiviral treatment that exists to prevent this fever.
When was the chikungunya outbreak in Jamaica?
A major chikungunya epidemic hit Jamaica in 2014 but no chikungunya-associated deaths were reported. We assessed the excess of all-cause deaths during this epidemic.
How does chikungunya come?
Chikungunya virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms of infection are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Outbreaks have occurred in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
What happens if chikungunya goes untreated?
If left untreated, Chikungunya can lead to a series of complications including fever, weakness, severe joint pain. Although rare some patients may also have ophthalmic, neurological and cardiac complications.