Bhopal, Chikungunya is spreading its tentacles in the city with 6 patients being admitted to the hospital. Two patients have been admitted in JP hospital, while three in Hamidia and one in AIIMS, Bhopal. In state, 29 cases have been reported in 12 districts with one death.
Chikangunya, which is a vector-borne disease, spreads through the same aedes aegypti mosquito which is responsible for spreading dengue.
If the mosquito carrying dengue virus bites a chikunguya patient then it starts spreading chikungunya virus instead of dengue virus.
“The disease is more dangerous because the mosquitoes are same, the process of virus transfer is same but the effects are prolonged.
Generally a dengue patient gets well completely if proper treatment is received. In case of chikungunya, the prolonged effects can trouble the patients for even 2-3 years”, said Dr Rashmi Chaudhary, department of microbiology, AIIMS.
Chikungunya is tested through both Serological and virological methods but in Bhopal, chikungunya is tested only through Virological methods. Since, there is no specific treatment for chikungunya too, medicines are given primarily for relieving the patient from pain.
“There is no vaccine for the disease, so the only way to save one from this disease is to be safe from mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are hyper-active during morning and in the evening and this is when one should avoid staying out”, she added.
Symptoms
*High fever with muscle pain
*Severe joint pain, which can last up to three years even after being treated and recovering completely
*Rashes in skin
*Continuous feeling of nausea
*Eye, neurological and heart complications
*Gastrointestinal complications
*Loss of appetite
