Today's modern medicine, improved sanitation and general health awareness protect us from major breakouts of epidemics.  In spite of these, we have recently been thrown into another worrisome condition called Chikungunya. It has become a concern in India, the latest epidemic currently being talked about in Bangalore. The monsoons could be responsible for the outbreak. Homoeopathy might be the answer.

The word ‘Chikungunya’ is thought to derive from a description in a local dialect of the contorted posture of patients afflicted with the severe joint pain associated with this disease. 

Some facts about the condition:

Chikungunya virus is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes and the prime method of spreading is by stagnant water.

The disease can be debilitating but usually non-fatal.
It causes an illness with symptoms similar to dengue fever and manifests itself with prolonged joint pains especially the joints of the extremities.

The acute febrile phase of the illness lasts only two to five days but the pain associated with infection of the joints persists for weeks or months.

The incubation period of Chikungunya disease is from two to four days.

Common symptoms

* Fever up to 102.2 °F. Typically, the fever lasts for two days and then ends abruptly.
* Rashes on the trunk and occasionally on the limbs.
* Pain affecting multiple joints.
* Other symptoms include headache, eye redness, intolerance to light and multiple mouth ulcers.
* Eye inflammation, swelling of legs is observed in many patients, the cause of which remains unknown.
* Joint pains, intense headache, sleeplessness and an extreme degree of tiredness last for a variable period, usually for about 5 to 7 days.
* Patients have complained of joint pains for much longer time periods depending on their age.
* If left untreated, the illness can lead to severe complications.

Recovery from the disease varies by age. Younger patients recover within 5 to 15 days while middle-agers recover in 1 to 2.5 months. Recovery is longer for the elderly.

The severity of the disease as well as its duration is less in younger patients and pregnant women. In pregnant women, no untoward effects are noticed after the infection.

Prevention

The most effective means of prevention are those that protect against any contact with the disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Using insect repellents, wearing bite-proof long sleeves and trousers and when indoors, staying in well screened areas.

Chikungunya is considered a ‘Vata’ disorder in Ayurveda and treatment is symptomatic. Hence good proportion of fluids in diet in the form of soups and gravies have to be consumed to prevent dehydration.

Easily digestible, preferably vegetarian food like greens, fruits like apples and bananas are to be consumed.
Tea and coffee must be avoided. Carrots help in improving the resistance of the people affected by Chikungunya. Eupatorium perfoliatum, a Homoeopathic medicine, which is prepared from an herb is a wonderful medicine used in prevention of Chikungunya and acts also as a preventive medicine. It acts like an antispasmodic and relaxes the mucus membrane and blood vessels.

Dr Sudha
The author is senior physician, Soukya and can be contacted at 22214625/ 22218252 or email: drsudha@soukya.com