Chikungunya fever 

It is a viral disease transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. He descrubió first during an outbreak in southern Tanzania in 1952 It is an RNA virus of the Alphavirus genus, family Togaviridae. "Chikungunya" is a voice Kimakonde language meaning "folding", in reference to the stooped appearance of patients due to joint pain.

Signs and symptoms

Chikungunya fever is characterized by sudden onset of fever, usually accompanied by joint pain. Other common signs and symptoms include muscle aches, headaches, nausea, fatigue and rash. The joint pain can be very debilitating, but usually disappear within a few days.

Most patients recover completely, but in some cases the joint pain can last several months or even years. Occasional cases have been reported with ocular, neurological and cardiac complications, and gastrointestinal discomfort.

Serious complications are rare, but the disease in older people can contribute to death. Often patients have only mild symptoms and the infection may go unnoticed or misdiagnosed as dengue in areas where this is common.

transmission

The chikungunya fever has been detected in almost 40 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and  America.

The virus is transmitted from one person to another by the bite of infected female mosquitoes. Generally mosquitoes involved are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus two species can also transmit other viruses, including dengue. These mosquitoes usually bite during the daytime period, although its activity may be high early in the morning and late afternoon. Both species bite outdoors, but Ae. aegypti can also do it indoors.

The disease usually appears between 4 and 8 days after the bite of an infected mosquito, but the range can be between 2 and 12 days.

Prevention and control

The proximity of housing to the breeding sites of mosquitoes is an important risk factor for both chikungunya and for other relevant species for diseases. Prevention and control are based largely on the reduction of natural water reservoirs and artificial that can serve as mosquito breeding

For those who sleep during the day, especially young children, the sick and the elderly,nets  provide good protection. The mosquito coils and insecticide vaporizers may also reduce bites indoors.