What is Chikungunya?
Chikungunya is a viral disease caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV). It is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito called an "Aedes mosquito." It was first detected in 2016 in Pakistan. Chikungunya is an African word that means "bent over in pain."
Symptoms of Chikungunya
The symptoms start to appear in 3 to 4 days. The most common symptoms of Chikungunya include the following:
- High fever
- Joint pain (especially in hands, feet, knees, and wrist)
- Headache
- Rash
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue
- Muscle pain
The joint pain may last for weeks or even months. The symptoms can be intense.
Is Chikungunya a Contagious Disease?
Chikungunya is not a contagious disease as it does not spread from person to person through physical contact, sharing water, or food. This virus only spreads through a mosquito bite.
Chikungunya Causes
As we discussed earlier, it is caused by the chikungunya virus, which enters the body when a person is bitten by an infected mosquito, primarily Aedes aegypti. These mosquitoes thrive in stagnant water and are most active during the day, especially early morning and afternoon.
Chikungunya Virus Treatment
According to the doctors, there is no specific chikungunya virus treatment but it can be managed and cured through intense supportive care. The only treatment in Chikungunya is to reduce the discomfort caused by high fever and joint pain. It is recommended to manage chikungunya symptoms by the following tips which include:
- Resting as much as possible
- Staying hydrated by drinking a lot of water and fresh juices
- Have painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
- Avoid the usage of Aspirin as it increases the risk of bleeding complication
Note: Patients are advised to consult the doctor immediately.
Chikungunya Medicine
There is no specific antiviral drug for chikungunya that will fight the virus as a symptomatic treatment. But, sometimes medicines are given to get rid of swelling of the joints, especially in the case of chronic pain. Physiotherapy may also be beneficial to patients who experience chronic joint discomfort after the acute illness phase passes.
Recommended medicines
This is where Orah plays an important role. At Orah, we understand that timely medicines are of much more importance for patients facing immense hardships such as chikungunya. Therefore, friendly online portals have been developed through which you will be able to procure all of the medicines you would require with a few clicks.
From vital painkillers like ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen to other beneficial drugs, all are available at Orah so you need not worry about whether they will be or not. Look at the sheer portfolio of drugs we have available, choose yours, and have them delivered straight to your door. As a trusted online medical store in Karachi Orah offers the relaible delivery services.
It's just making it simple, reliable, and affordable so you focus on getting better instead of finding the right medicine. Trust Orah to give you the best quality medicines and a hassle-free buying experience so healthcare becomes closer to you.
For patients infected with chikungunya, doctors would administer anti-medications like ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), paracetamol, naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and acetaminophen (Tylenol). These are particularly helpful in the alleviation of signs and symptoms, most especially the fever and characteristic severe joint pain associated with the illness. Let's find out why for each of these drugs:
- Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) is a drug available at Orah under the class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The drug may reduce inflammation, pain, and fever. As in chikungunya, there is severe swelling and pain at the locations, ibuprofen alleviates such illnesses and aches.
- Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn): This is an NSAID in the same class as ibuprofen. It blocks several of the hormones in the body that may give rise to inflammation and pain, so this medication should be sufficient to manage chikungunya arthralgias and myalgias.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Acetaminophen is an analgesic and antipyretic. Your patient should be given acetaminophen to reduce fever and to treat mild to moderate pain. Acetaminophen does not impact inflammation and therefore is used primarily when NSAIDs are contraindicated. For instance, if a patient had a stomach ulcer, then NSAIDs could not be prescribed; instead, acetaminophen could be used.
Important Notice: Some antiviral diseases, like dengue, require that patients do not use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen because there is a risk of bleeding complications. Thus, a patient should always consult a health care provider before using any medication and be assured of its safety in treatment for his or her condition, because chikungunya diagnosis and exclusion of other viral infections would deserve timely consideration.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
‘’A healthy outside starts from the inside." – Robert Urich
As this disease has no cure, the prevention of chikungunya is crucial in slowing its spread. Here are some important ways to avert it:
- Use Mosquito Repellents: By applying mosquito repellents available at Orah on parts of your body not covered and wearing protective clothing, bites will be prevented especially at peak mosquito activity periods like early morning to late afternoon.
- Destruction of Larvae Breeding Sites: Chikungunya-transmitting mosquitoes breed in standing water. Empty, cover, or exposed flowerpots, buckets, and other water storage units to the sun to reduce populations of these insects.
- Install Window Screens and Nets: Mosquito nets, or screening of windows and doors, help keep mosquitoes out of living areas as an extra measure.
- Insecticide Spraying: In regions where chikungunya spreads extensively, sprays of insecticides around homes and in public can help reduce the rate of mosquitoes. Orah, a trusted online pharmacy in Pakistan offers a wide range of reliable brands of insecticide spray available at Orah.
These strategies greatly reduce the spread of this disease and consequently prevent those conditions, keeping communities pain-free and safe from this very harmful virus.
Your Health, Our Priority - Let Orah Handle Your Chikungunya Medication Needs
Timely, efficient treatment without compromising health is what Orah will provide to ensure that your health remains the highest priority. From painkillers like ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen among many more trusted medicines for the patients, Orah will provide them with the easiest experience regarding the struggles of dealing with chikungunya. You don't have to go out there, or think of getting the right medication; Orah will deliver everything to your doorstep so you can get back on your feet.
Additionally, we offer a wide range of iron supplements in Pakistan that will improve your health and overall well-being.
We proudly partner with the most trusted brands in pharmaceuticals, ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of each product. With health matters, choose convenience, choose reliability—choose Orah for all your medicinal needs. Make health care less taxing and let Orah bring wellness closer to you. As an online medical store in Karachi we are striing to make healthcare accessible to eeryone who is suffering.
As Mahatma Gandhi said,
"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver."
so, trust Orah for your valuable health.