Abstract

CEROL, Marta; CEZARINO, Giovanna; FERRINHO, Paulo  and  TEODOSIO, Rosa. Chikungunya Virus: A Review to Clinicians. Medicina Interna [online]. 2020, vol.27, n.1, pp.52-61. ISSN 0872-671X.  https://doi.org/10.24950/Revisao/177/19/1/2020.

Chikungunya virus is a re-emerging alphavirus, transmitted by mosquitoes from Aedes species. It is endemic in Africa, and recently it has spread throughout the Indian Ocean, Asia and the Americas, where it has caused several major outbreaks. Since 2007 small outbreaks with autochthone transmission happened in southern Europe, where Aedes albopictus expanded. The disease is characterized by fever, headache, rash and arthralgia with an acute unset. Arthralgia may progress and become persistent. Atypical manifestations, severe but rare, include neurologic disease. It is associated with morbidity, due to persistent arthralgia, and mortality. The diagnosis is performed by polymerase chain reaction or by IgM and IgG antibodies detection. There is no effective antiviral treatment, and therefore supportive care is recommended to relieve symptoms. Vector control strategies are the only available method to control Aedes mosquitoes in urban setting.

Keywords : Chikungunya Fever; Chikungunya virus.

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