Chikungunya fever

The chikungunya fever is a viral disease caused by Chikungunya virus (VCHIK). The word "chikungunya" is derived from the Makonde language, spoken by an ethnic group in southeast Tanzania and northern Mozambique, and is the root of the verb "kungunyala" meaning "dry or to become twisted". The infection was first described in Tanzania, East Africa in the years 1952-1953; after this outbreak, epidemics have been described in different geographical areas, particularly in Africa and Asia. Since 2005, cases have increased and Chikungunya is considered a reemerging disease. On December 6th, 2013 Chikungunya fever was first described in the Americas. There have been autochthonous outbreaks in St Martin and Dominica islands and the disease has already spread to other islands in the Caribbean. The infection is primarily transmitted by the bite of Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus, transmitters of dengue; it is also transmitted from mother to child, organ transplantation and accidents in health care workers. Pregnant women transmit the disease to the baby, especially when the disease is acquired in the culmination of pregnancy and the infection in newborns is usually severe. The etiologic agent is the Chikungunya virus, Alphavirus of the Togaviridae family. Three genotypes have been described, a mutation of the virus in 2005 allowed a more efficient transmission by A. albopictus in the Asian continent. In the acute stage the real-time PCR is the most recommended method. Clinical manifestations of the disease are very similar to dengue, sudden onset of high fever, arthralgia, back pain, headache and rash. Dermatological and ocular manifestations (such as conjunctivitis) are frequent. Chikungunya is accompanied by intense incapacitating arthralgia and/or arthritis, which can last for weeks, months or years. Most patients recover two to three weeks after the symptoms start. There is no specific treatment, neither a vaccoine for the prevention of disease...