Chikungunya: Doctors advise rest, fluid intake; ask not to

Amid a sudden rise in chikungunya cases in Delhi, doctors and government authorities have asked people not to panic, saying the vector-borne disease is debilitating but not life-threatening and have recommended measures to prevent mosquito-breeding.
Chikungunya is a viral illness and its symptoms are similar to those of dengue, which include high-grade fever, severe joint pain, muscle pain and headache and joint swelling. It also causes rashes in patients but is not a threat like dengue in which there is a risk of bleeding due to abrupt fall in platelet count.
"The joint pains last longer compared to dengue cases and especially elderly people find it extremely difficult. Though, people should not worry as it not a life-threatening disease like dengue," said Lalit Dar of Department of Microbiology at AIIMS.

The disease is caused by the same aedes aegypti mosquito which causes dengue but the difference is that dengue virus has four strains while chikungunya has only one, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) Director, A C Dhariwal said.
Dhariwal and other health experts have acknowledged the sudden spike in chikungunya cases but have appealed to people not to panic.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has advised people against rushing to get admitted in hospitals and asked them not to resort to self-medication.

There is no specific treatment for chikungunya. Supportive therapy that helps ease symptoms such as administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and getting plenty of rest may be beneficial, according to experts.

"Chikungunya patients are advised to get plenty rest and drink fluids to prevent dehydration. If someone shows symptoms of it, he or she should get tested immediately as both chikungunya and dengue have similar symptoms.
"Until dengue is not ruled out, aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should not be taken. Only paracetamol can be taken for fever," says Interventional cardiologist Sameer Gupta.
There are no real home remedies, the treatment is symptomatic, and patients should get themselves tested promptly but prevention is the best cure, he said.
"Chikungunya typically is non-fatal and within 10 days people get better. In case of elderly people, aged above 65 years or having diabetes, hypertension, or very young children, they are prone to some complications like enchephalitis or pneumonia or pneumonitis.

Aedes mosquitoes are active mainly during day-time, especially early morning and dusk time. Doctors have advised people to wear full-sleeved clothes and use mosquito repellents to prevent mosquito bites.
"Now breeding of mosquitoes have been reported in as small a container as a water bottle cap and coffee cups. So, people must take preventive measures," Dhariwal said.
Aedes mosquitoes breed in clean water and therefore places like coolers, flower pots and bird-feeding utensils are some of the common places where the mosquitoes lay their eggs.
"Since, chikungunya does not have a cure as such, prevention is the best cure and people should avoid stagnation of water in these places, besides keeping themselves covered especially during morning and evening time," Gupta said.

On the difference between dengue and chikunguya, she said, "Dengue virus gets detected early but chikungunya takes longer to detect. Also, they are both carried by the same vector but dengue virus has four different strains while chikungunya has only one."
"So, patients having been affected with dengue from one strain can still contract the disease from three other strains," she added.
A K Bali of Moolchand Khairatiram Hospital says, "Our hospital is getting 25-30 suspected chikungunya cases daily but we are not sending all patients for testing as this test is costly and only the basis of patients' conditions we are prescribing blood tests."

This year till July 28, 9,990 suspected cases of the disease have been recorded, with Karnataka reporting 7,591 cases, according to NVBDCP.
At AIIMS laboratories which get blood samples from Delhi and other parts of the country, 362 samples have tested positive for chikungunya from July to August 20.
On the other hand, at least 311 cases of dengue have been reported in the national capital till August 20 and the deadly disease has claimed four lives this season.