Health experts on Friday urged the formulation of chikungunya management plans, provision of technical support to hospitals, and the creation of public awareness to circumvent the disease.
“The relevant departments should improve reporting systems, provide clinical management training, and strategies for vector control and diagnosis,” one expert said.
Dr Wasim Khawaja from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said that chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans from infected mosquitoes. He added that the disease causes fever and severe joint pain. “Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, rash and fatigue,” he said.
He said that joint pain was often debilitating and could vary in duration.
“The disease shares some clinical signs with dengue, and can be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common,” he said. “Cases of the virus can be acute, sub-acute or chronic.”
Dr Wasim Khawaja said that after the bite of an infected mosquito, the onset of the illness occurs usually between four and eight days but could occur after two to twelve days in some cases.
He said that most of the patients recover fully, but in some cases, joint pain may persist for several months, or even years. Occasional cases of eye, neurological and heart complications have also been reported, as well as gastrointestinal complaints.
He said that serious complications are not common, but in older people, the disease can be very serious. “Symptoms in infected individuals are often mild and the infection may go unrecognised, or be misdiagnosed in areas where similar diseases occur,” Dr Khwaja said.
He said that prevention and control rely heavily on reducing the number of natural and artificial water-filled container habitats that support the breeding of the mosquitoes.
Dr Sharif Astori from the Federal Government poly Clinic (FGPC) said that basic precautions should be taken by people travelling to high-risk areas, including the use of repellents, wearing long sleeves and pants, and ensuring that rooms are fitted with screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
He said that for those who sleep during the daytime, particularly young children, or sick or older people, insecticide-treated mosquito nets afforded good protection. Mosquito coils or other insecticide vaporisers may also reduce indoor biting, he added.
