Chikungunya is very difficult for the body, isn't it? Let's find out more about it.

Have you suddenly developed a high fever and unbearable pain in your body, especially in the joints of your hands and feet? Have you had difficulty not only walking, but even getting out of bed? These symptoms could be Chikungunya. This is a viral disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes and affects many people. So today, let's talk about Chikungunya clearly and simply.

What exactly is Chikungunya?

Simply put, chikungunya is a virus spread by mosquitoes. It is not transmitted directly from one person to another. However, when a mosquito bites a person with chikungunya, the virus enters that mosquito. Then, when that mosquito bites a healthy person, that person also becomes infected. The two types of mosquitoes that spread dengue in our country , Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, also spread chikungunya. The meaning of the name "chikungunya" is very special. In an African language, this name means "bent over in pain." The reason for this is that due to the severe joint pain that occurs when this disease develops, patients are unable to stand upright and have to bend over.

How do I know if I have chikungunya?

Symptoms usually begin to appear between 3 and 7 days after the virus enters the body. The main symptoms are:

• Sudden onset of high fever (around 39-40 degrees Celsius).
• Unbearable joint pain. This pain is especially severe in the small joints of the hands and feet. Sometimes the joints may also swell.
• Severe headache .
• Muscle pain .
• Nausea and vomiting .
• Redness of the eyes.
• Skin rash or red spots .
• Extreme fatigue and exhaustion .

But the biggest problem here is that the symptoms of chikungunya are very similar to those of other mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and Zika. So, if you have these symptoms, especially if chikungunya or dengue is spreading in your area, you should definitely see a doctor immediately .

What are the treatments for this?

Because this is a viral disease, no specific antiviral medicine has yet been found that can kill the chikungunya virus. Also, there is no vaccine to protect against it. Therefore, doctors only treat the symptoms.

• For pain and fever: Paracetamol can be used.
• Rest: Getting enough rest is essential. This is when the body has the strength to fight the illness.
• Fluids: Fever can cause dehydration, so drink plenty of fluids like water, juice, fruit juice, and porridge .

For some people, if joint and muscle pain persists after the disease has healed, the doctor may prescribe medications such as steroids or methotrexate, which is used for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

How long does it take to recover from the disease?

Most people recover within a week or two of fever and other acute symptoms. However, as mentioned earlier, some people may have this severe joint pain for months, even years. We call this condition "Chronic Chikungunya Arthritis" . Newborns, people over 65, and people with other medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease can be more severely affected by chikungunya. If you or someone you know falls into one of these groups and is showing symptoms, it is very important to see a doctor right away . The good news is that once you have had chikungunya, your body builds up immunity against it, so the risk of getting it again is very low.

Most importantly: How to protect yourself from mosquitoes?

The best way to protect yourself from both chikungunya and dengue is to protect yourself from mosquito bites. You can do the following:

• Clothing: Wear long pants and long-sleeved clothing that covers as much of your body as possible.
• Mosquito nets: Use a mosquito net when sleeping at night.
• Mosquito repellent: If you are going outside, apply a mosquito repellent containing DEET. If you are going to be in the sun, apply sunscreen first, then apply the repellent.
• Clean the environment: This is the most important thing. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in places where clean water is present. So, check your garden and surrounding environment regularly. Clean up places like water-filled tires, coconut shells, empty cans, saucers under flower pots, and rain gutters to eliminate any areas where water can accumulate.

Remember, if we all keep our homes and gardens clean, we can protect ourselves from dengue and chikungunya by controlling mosquito breeding. Chikungunya, Chikungunya, mosquito-borne diseases, joint pain, fever, dengue, protection from mosquitoes