actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu shared a video on Instagram and said that she was suffering from chikungunya. Now she works out at the gym to recover from it. He wrote that he still suffered from joint pain.

Chikungunya is a virus that is spread through mosquito bites. Most people develop symptoms within three to seven days after a mosquito bite. This usually involves fever and joint pain.

According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, as of November 30, 2024, 4 lakh 80,000 cases of chikungunya were recorded worldwide. More than 12,500 cases have been recorded in India in 2024.

That is why today in “Sehatnama” we will talk about Chikungunya. You will also learn that-

What are the symptoms of chikungunya? What complications can occur in this disease? Are chikungunya and dengue the same disease?

A case of Chikungunya was first discovered in India in 1963.

The first case of chikungunya was reported in India almost 60 years ago, in 1963. However, this problem first became a matter of concern in 2006, when the number of cases suddenly started increasing rapidly in the country. This causes a lot of back pain. This is why it is also called Back Breaking Fever.

what is chikungunya

Chikungunya is a virus that is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. The Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are responsible. Most people recover from this condition in about a week. However, some people continue to experience joint pain throughout their lives.

What are the symptoms of chikungunya

Symptoms of chikungunya usually develop between three and seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. However, some people may experience symptoms as early as two days or up to 12 days after a mosquito bite.

Fever and joint pain are the most common symptoms of chikungunya virus. Many people experience unbearable joint pain. What are its other symptoms, see in the graph:

Some common questions and answers related to Chikungunya

Question: How is chikungunya detected?

Answer: If a person has symptoms of chikungunya, they should see a doctor. They may recommend a blood test to diagnose chikungunya. The only way to confirm whether or not this virus is present in the body is to take a blood test.

Question: What is the treatment for Chikungunya?

Answer: No medicine has yet been manufactured for the treatment of Chikungunya. In its treatment, we try to manage the patient’s symptoms. Apart from this, the patient should keep these things in mind during this period:

Drink as much water, juice and soup as possible. Get enough rest, sleep 8 hours. If you have joint pain, do not take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin without consulting a doctor.

Most people recover within a week of symptoms appearing. The good thing is that for people who have already had chikungunya, the chances of being infected with this virus again are almost negligible. This happens because the body develops immunity to the virus.

Question: How is Chikungunya spread?

Answer: People contract chikungunya when they are bitten by a mosquito infected with this virus. It is not transmitted from one person to another. However, a mosquito becomes infected with the virus when it bites an infected person. Therefore, if someone is infected, avoid mosquito bites to prevent the virus from spreading to others.

Question: What measures can be taken to prevent Chikungunya?

Answer: Do not allow water to accumulate in or anywhere else in the house. Since the Aedes mosquito cannot fly very far, protection against it can be provided to a large extent. Apart from this, avoid going to Chikungunya risk areas. If it is necessary to go to such a place, wear long-sleeved clothing and sleep there in a mosquito net at night.

Question: Is the chikungunya vaccine available?

Answer: Yes, you can also get vaccinated to prevent Chikungunya. By the end of 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a vaccine named “IXCHIQ” against chikungunya.

This vaccine has been approved for anyone over the age of 18. Therefore, in the case of children, caution remains the main preventive measure.

Question: How effective is the Chikungunya vaccine?

Answer: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the vaccine called IXCHIQ designed against Chikungunya is effective for 6 months or more in more than 96% of cases. In some cases it has been found to protect against chikungunya for more than 2 years.

Question: Why does joint pain occur in chikungunya?

Answer: When infected with the Chikungunya virus, our body’s immune system tries to destroy it. During this time, our body’s cells also become victims of attacks from the immune system. As a result, the tissues are also destroyed and swelling occurs.

Apart from this, the Chikungunya virus also produces toxins that cause swelling in the joints. This is the reason why there is pain in the joints in case of Chikungunya.

Question: What should you do in case of Chikungunya?

Answer: There is no medication to treat Chikungunya. Therefore, according to the doctor’s advice, in addition to taking medication, one should rest and drink plenty of water. As soon as you rest, you should start doing light exercises.

Question: Are chikungunya and dengue the same thing?

Answer: No, these two viruses are different. However, mosquitoes of the same species are responsible for transmitting both viruses to humans. The symptoms of dengue are largely similar to those of chikungunya. However, dengue does not usually cause joint pain or back pain.

Question: Is Chikungunya a contagious disease?

Answer: No, Chikungunya is spread among humans only through mosquito bites. It cannot be transmitted to another person through saliva, sneezing or coughing from a sick person. This virus only spreads when the mosquito itself is infected with the virus.

Question: What complications can occur due to chikungunya?

Answer: The most common complication of the virus is chronic joint pain. Some people continue to complain of pain for months or years after chikungunya infection.

Newborn babies and people over 65 years of age may face serious health problems because of this. Apart from this, problems may increase due to chikungunya infection in the following health conditions:

diabeteshigh blood pressureheart disease

Death from the virus occurs in very rare cases. In some cases, after recovering from the virus, people may complain of heart, eye or neurological symptoms. …………………. this short story by Sehatnama Sehatnama – Samantha Ruth Prabhu Myositis: What is this disease, in which it is difficult to get up and move walk, Doctor Know the symptoms and treatment of

Samantha suffers from a disease called myositis. In this, the immune cells start attacking the muscles of the body. Muscles begin to weaken from the resulting inflammation. This makes it difficult to get up and sit down. …