Chikungunya Treatment

How is Chikungunya Diagnosed?

A diagnosis of chikungunya is made by a physician or an infectious disease specialist. The diagnosis is confirmed through symptom evaluation, joint examination, and blood tests that confirm the presence of the virus. Early diagnosis is important since chikungunya needs to be differentiated from dengue.

Chikungunya can be diagnosed using:

• Clinical evaluation

• RT-PCR test

• IgM test after the fifth day of illness

• IgG test to confirm current or past infection

• Tests for dengue and malaria

• Complete blood count

• Joint evaluation

How is Chikungunya Treated Based on Severity?

Recommended chikungunya treatment based on severity is as follows:

Stages of Chikungunya and Their Treatment

Chikungunya progresses through recognised stages, and its treatment differs at each stage, as shown in the following table:

Topical Treatments for Chikungunya

For chikungunya, topical treatments are limited. Some of the topical treatments doctors prescribe to patients with chikungunya are the following:

• Cold compresses

• Topical NSAID gels (after dengue exclusion if appropriate)

• Capsaicin cream (persistent pain in selected patients)

Other Treatments for Chikungunya

Other treatment options for chikungunya include the following:

• NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen

• Physiotherapy and graded exercises

• Corticosteroids (for severe joint inflammation in the post-acute period)

• Methotrexate and sulfasalazine (for persistent joint problems lasting several months)

• Intravenous fluids and hospital admission for severe or unusual cases

Oral Medications for Chikungunya

Oral medications help relieve chikungunya symptoms and chronic joint pain. These oral drugs include:

• Paracetamol: The drug of choice to alleviate fever and pain in the acute phase.

• Ibuprofen and Naproxen: Used to reduce joint pain after dengue is ruled out.

• Methotrexate: Prescribed for chronic joint pain.

• Sulfasalazine: Another alternative for chronic joint disease.

• Oral Rehydration Salts: Replace fluid loss due to fever.

Ayurvedic and Alternative Treatments for Chikungunya

Alternative treatments may help reduce pain during the recovery period from chikungunya. However, they can never replace the need for proper medical treatment. Some alternative treatments that can be considered to treat chikungunya are as follows:

• Giloy may help in recovering from fever faster.

• Tulsi can be considered as an alternative for fever and weakness.

• Turmeric has many anti-inflammatory properties.

• Ginger may reduce joint pain.

• Massaging joints with warm oil can be beneficial.

• Proper nourishment and rest can help in recovering from a disease.

These measures should be used alongside prescribed treatment, only after consulting a healthcare professional.

Home Care for Managing Chikungunya

Most patients suffering from chikungunya can successfully recover at home. Some home care advice for chikungunya patients would be:

• Consume plenty of water, coconut water and oral rehydration fluid.

• Ensure adequate rest while you have a fever, and then slowly start being active.

• Use paracetamol as recommended by your doctor, and avoid NSAIDs until dengue has been excluded.

• Place a cold pack on painful, swollen joints.

• Gently move the joints each day to avoid stiffness.

• Sleep inside a mosquito net to ensure that you do not spread the virus further.

• Seek medical help for bleeding, persistent vomiting, giddiness or reduced urine output.

How Long Does Chikungunya Treatment Take?

Recovery time from chikungunya varies widely between patients. The table shows approximate timelines for various stages of chikungunya:

Note:Treatment duration may vary depending on the age of the patient, the severity of joint involvement, existing joint disease and how early treatment is started.

Chikungunya Treatment Side Effects

Although using medicines for Chikungunya is usually safe, some medications have the potential to cause side effects. The common side effects of such medicines are listed below:

• Nausea

• Irritation of the stomach

• Heartburn or acidity

• Bleeding tendency with the use of NSAIDs in the early stage

• Increase in blood sugar levels due to corticosteroids

• Vision problems due to prolonged use of hydroxychloroquine

• Liver toxicity and ulcers in the mouth due to methotrexate

• Low blood counts due to disease-modifying drugs

It is advised to consult a doctor if any of these symptoms occur.

Lifestyle Changes for Managing Chikungunya

Just by making a few lifestyle changes, a person can recover from Chikungunya faster. Below are the lifestyle changes doctors often recommend to manage chikungunya:

• Maintain hydration

• Be on a balanced diet

• Practice gentle joint exercises

• Get adequate sleep every night

• Return to activity gradually

• Avoid alcohol while taking hepatotoxic medicines

Triggers That Can Worsen Chikungunya Symptoms

Some of the factors that make chikungunya more severe include the following:

• Delay in seeking medical assistance

• Age more than 65 years or less than 1 year old

• Previous disease affecting joints like arthritis

• Having diabetes, cardiac disease or renal disease

• Administration of NSAIDS before excluding dengue

• Dehydration during the fever phase

• Early return to strenuous physical activities

• Control of these factors reduces the risk of complications

Chikungunya Treatment Cost in India

Mild cases of chikungunya managed on an outpatient basis generally cost ₹500 to ₹3,000. On the other hand, patients requiring laboratory investigations, follow-up visits, and physiotherapy may spend ₹3,000 to ₹15,000. However, severe chikungunya cases that require hospitalisation, intravenous fluids, specialist care, or intensive monitoring can cost ₹20,000 to ₹1,00,000 or more, especially in private hospitals. Government healthcare facilities often provide diagnosis and treatment at much lower cost or sometimes free of charge.

Does Health Insurance Cover Chikungunya Treatment in India?

Yes, health insurance plans cover the treatment of chikungunya. Most medical insurance plans cover severe cases of chikungunya requiring hospitalisation. However, OPD cover helps to pay for doctor consultations, blood tests, medications, and physiotherapy when mild cases of chikungunya are treated on an outpatient basis.

In fact, a few insurers also offer customised health insurance plans for vector-borne diseases, including chikungunya. Such plans provide a pre-defined benefit on diagnosis and have a low waiting period. However, make sure to read the policy document to know the scope of coverage.