Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment
Symptoms
Most people infected with chikungunya virus will develop some symptoms.
Symptoms usually begin 3–7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain.
Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.
Chikungunya disease does not often result in death, but the symptoms can be severe and disabling.
Most patients feel better within a week. In some people, the joint pain may persist for months.
People at risk for more severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults (≥65 years), and people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease.
Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.
Diagnosis
The symptoms of chikungunya are similar to those of dengue, another disease spread by mosquitoes.
See your doctor if you develop the symptoms described above.
If you have recently traveled, tell your doctor.
Your doctor may order blood tests to look for chikungunya or other similar diseases.
Treatment
There is no medicine to treat chikungunya virus infection or disease.
Decrease the symptoms:
Get plenty of rest
Drink fluids to prevent dehydration
Take medicines, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, or paracetamol, to relieve fever and pain.
