Factors Reasoning for Chickunkunya

It has been widely reported in the media that modern medicine has nothing much to offer in the treatment of chikungunya. Combined with reports that there were deaths due to chikungunya (none of these deaths were ever confirmed as due to chikungunya), such statements have only increased confusion and panic among the people. This has provided a golden opportunity for the proponents of the ‘alternative systems’ to claim the market and make the most of it.
Every attempt has been made to study chikungunya since its identification as a mosquito borne illness in 1952. The ultra structure of the virus, its modes of spread, symptoms, complications, manifestations in infected pregnant women, infants and the elderly, morbidity and mortality, chronic arthritis and its management strategies and many other aspects of chikungunya have been studied in detail in several countries and the reports have been published in many reputed scientific publications and by WHO.
In the recent years, chikungunya has been spreading across 23 countries of Africa and Asia, including India. The changes in the viral genome have apparently made it more virulent and the same viral serotype has been found across Africa and Asia. The disease is self-limiting and in most patients resolves in 4-10 days. There is no need for any specific treatment for chikungunya other than acetaminophen in case of high fever or severe joint pain. Rare complications may require specific supportive treatment. About 12% patients may have persistent joint pains and such patients may need chloroquine tablets. There are no drugs or vaccines to prevent chikugunya and the spread of infection can be prevented only by means of controlling the vector mosquito.
Thus, modern medicine is clear about the strategies for management and prevention of chikungunya. More research is underway to understand its pathogenesis and to develop a vaccine.