Chikungunya fever

Chikungunya fever is a tropical arboviral disease occurring mainly in southern part of Asia and East Africa. Chikungunya virus was responsible for mass epidemy on Indian Ocean islands and western shore regions of India and Malesia in 2005. About 100 cases were identified in the USA between 1995 and 2009, all patients were returning travelers. The first case of Chikungunya fever in Europe was reported in Rimini region in 2007. The disease is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and easily becomes epidemic. The main sign and symptoms of chikungunya fever are following: high fever lasting for a few days, spotty or hemorrhagic rash on the trunk and limbs, long-lasting atralgia or arthritis of the knee joints, ankles and small joints of the limbs, myalgia, and tendovaginitis. Arthritis persists for 3-5 years in 12 per cent of patients (Table I, II). Chikungunya fever is a self-limited disease but in rare cases may have severe life-threatening manifestations, including neurological, gastroenterological (hepatitis fulminous) or hemorrhagic (especially in children) complications. There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine again chikungunya fever. Management is symptomatic. The only preventive measure is limitation of mosquito bites (application of mosquito net, repellents).