Chikungunya Arthritis
“Chikungunya” comes from Makonde language (in Africa), meaning “that which bends up”. This is referred to one of the symptoms of Chikungunya where patients walk in a bending or stooped posture due to joint pain.
Chikungunya is a viral disease which is usually transmitted to humans by infected mosquito bite. Chikungunya fever is started after 2 to 4 days of virus attack. Symptoms of Chikungunya may act like rheumatoid arthritis, including fever, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, fatigue, nausea, rashes, and general malaise. The major affected areas are joints of hands, fingers, and foot having intense pain and swellings. This viral fever lasts for about 3 to 4 days along with rashes and itching on the face (nose and cheeks). However, in some cases, the joint pain may persist for months or years. And this persistent joint pain may be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis. If you are also suffering from the same problem, then you can visit best chikungunya arthritis doctor in Punjab for the treatment.
Symptoms
It may take 1 to 12 days to reveal the symptoms in the affected patients. Only differentiating factor in many cases is the symptom of acute joint pain.
Other physical symptoms of Chikungunya may include;
- A headache with intense fever and joint pain.
- Redness in eye
- Difficulty in looking at light
- Rashes may appear usually on trunks and limbs
- Vomiting & Diarrhea
Diagnosis
ELISA blood test is the reliable way to identify Chikungunya since its symptoms are just similar to deadly dengue fever. Chikungunya is confirmed when symptoms of fever and joint pain have appeared along with one of the following:
- In paired serum samples, there is 4 fold of HI (Haemagglutination Inhibition) antibody difference that turns positive within 5 to 8 days of infection.
- Findings of IgM antibodies which persist up to 6 months of infection.
- RT-PCR virus nucleic acid detection in serum usually conducted within 5 days of infection.
Treatment
Best chikungunya arthritis doctor in Punjab, is here to offer the best treatment for the same. If you are also suffering from the same problem, then you can also go there.
- The main aim of treatment resides in the management of joint pain and fever along with taking sufficient rest, more fluid intake, healthy diet, and medicines to relieve pain. Therefore, in the first few days of treatment Paracetamol is given along with NSAIDs for pain management.
- A proper vaccination is very effective in high-risk areas of Chikungunya infection.
- Importantly, maintain a healthy lifestyle to enhance fast recovery from Chikungunya Arthritis.
