Chikungunya

What is Chikungunya?

Chikungunya (also known as Chicken Guinea) is a relatively rare form of viral fever resembling dengue fever; caused by an alphavirus that is spread by mosquito bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

The Chikungunya epidemic currently attacked millions of people in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Andhrapradesh, Kerala, Rajsthan and Uttar Pradesh. Chikungunya is not considered to be fatal. Chikungunya virus is highly infective and disabling but is not transmissible between people. Where as recent researches reported transmission from mother to fetus.

Can Chikungunya Cause Death?

Chikungunya was first described in Tanzania, Africa in 1952 following an outbreak on the Makonde plateau. In 2006, there was a big outbreak in the Andhra Pradesh state in India. Nearly 200,000 people were affected by this disease. Some deaths have been reported but it was thought to be due mainly to the inappropriate use of antibiotics and anti inflammatory tablets. As this virus can cause thrombocytopenia (decrease in platelets in blood), injudicious use of these drugs can cause erosions in the gastric epithelium leading to upper GI bleeding (due to thrombocytopenia).

How Chikundunya Virus Spreads?

Chikungunya fever is caused by Chikugunya virus. They are spherical enveloped virions, 60 nm diameters and have single stranded positive sense RNA genome.

The chikungunya virus is spread by mosquito bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person infected with the chikungunya virus. Monkeys, and possibly other wild animals, may also serve as reservoirs of the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other humans when they bite.

Aedes breeds in artificial accumulations of water. It needs only 2ml of water for breeding. It lays eggs singly. They do not fly over long distance, usually less than 100 metres. Eggs can resist desiccation for upto 1year. The eggs will hatch when flooded by deoxygenated water.

What are the Symptoms?

After an incubation period of 3-12 days there is a sudden onset of flu-like symptoms including a severe headache, chills, fever (>40°C, 104°F), joint pain, backache, nausea, vomiting, petechial (a small, haemorrhagic spot) or maculopapular ( the presence of macules and raised palpable spots) rash usually involving the limbs and trunks. Migratory polyarthritis mainly affects the small joints of the hands, wrists, ankles and feet with lesser involvement of the larger joints. Joints of the extremities in particular become swollen and painful to the touch. Haemorrhage is rare. There can also be headache, redness of eye due to conjunctival infection and slight photophobia.Redness of eyes may be the first symptom. There may be difficulty in looking upwards.

In the recent epidemic in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India, high fever and crippling joint pain is the prevalent complaint. Fever typically lasts for two days and abruptly comes down. The disease has a biphasic course also. Following 1-6 days of fever, the temperature returns to normal for 1-3 days and then there is a second period of fever for a few days. In the second phase of illness 80 % of people develop maculopapular rash on the trunk and extensor surfaces of the limbs. After 6 to 10 days patients recover completely. However joint pain, intense headache, insomnia and an extreme degree of prostration lasts for a variable period, usually for about 5 to 7 days. Rarely pain in bones and morning stiffness may persist for months.

What Investigations are Required?

A complete blood count is needed. Other than this estimation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and C-reactive protein level can help to make diagnosis.

What are the Complications?

• Super added infection with bacteria
• Meningo encephalitis
• Death occurs in immunocomprised patients.
• Myocarditis
• Pneumonias

How Chikungunya Can Be Prevented?

• The best way to avoid Chikungunya infection is to prevent mosquito bites.
• Use insect repellent.
• Wear long sleeve dresses and pants.
• Have secure screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
• Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren't being used.
• Additionally, a person with chikungunya fever or dengue should limit their exposure to mosquito bites in order to avoid further spreading the infection. The person should stay indoors or under a mosquito net. Mix coconut oil and neem oil and external application of it will prevent mosquito bite.

Is there any Preventive Medicine For Chikungunya?

Many homeopaths consider Eupatorium perfoliatum as a preventive medicine for Chikungunya. The most commonly suggested potency as prophylaxis is 200C of Eupatorium perfoliatum.

What Can Homeopathy Do In Chikungunya?

Homoeopathy has a very good scope in the treatment of chikungunya although Chikungunya fever is usually self-limiting and will resolve with time. Symptomatic treatment is recommended after excluding other more dangerous diseases. There is no vaccine currently available for Chikungunya in any other system of medicine except Homeopathy.

During the recent epidemic of chikungunya Homeopathy found to be most effective not only during illness but for the post chikungunya complaints also.