Overview
Chikungunya is a viral illness spread by day-biting Aedes mosquitoes — the same mosquitoes that spread dengue. It causes fever with severe joint pain that can be intense enough to limit walking or gripping. The fever settles within a week, but joint pain and stiffness can linger for weeks or months in some people. Treatment is rest, fluids and paracetamol; there is no specific antiviral medicine.
Symptoms
- Sudden fever
- Severe joint pain, often in hands, wrists, ankles and knees
- Joint swelling and stiffness, worse in the morning
- Rash on the trunk and limbs
- Headache and muscle pain
When to see a doctor
See a doctor for high fever with joint pain during mosquito season, both to confirm the diagnosis (it can mimic dengue) and to rule out dengue's bleeding risk.
Causes
The chikungunya virus, transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes that breed in clean stagnant water around homes.