Question
Chikungunya virus
Answer
Chikungunya virus is a mosquito-borne Alphavirus (family Togaviridae), transmitted by infected Aedes mosquitoes (A. aegypti, A. albopictus).
Clinical features: high fever and severe, often debilitating polyarthralgia/arthritis (the name derives from a word meaning “that which bends up”), typically affecting small joints symmetrically, with a maculopapular rash and myalgia; significant haemorrhagic manifestations are uncommon (unlike dengue).
Distinctive feature: joint symptoms can persist for months to years as chronic arthralgia/arthritis in a significant proportion of patients.
Laboratory diagnosis: RT-PCR (most sensitive in the first few days of illness); serology — IgM ELISA (from ~day 5) and IgG for later/past infection.
Treatment: no specific antiviral therapy; supportive management (analgesics/NSAIDs, avoiding aspirin until dengue co-infection is excluded).
Prevention: mosquito control and personal protective measures — the same measures used against dengue, given the shared Aedes vector.