Current situation with Chikungunya in Colombia

Abstract

Currently in Colombia, very much like in other countries there has been a disease going viral which can be transmitted through human vector. This type of vector is very common in various parts of the country and the world; the mosquitos are infected with the virus. The Chikungunya, properly known, have signs and symptoms that are very similar to clinical manifested tropical virus called, dengue, which includes, just as Chikungunya, arthralgia and/or polyarthralgia with an acute presentation, myalgia, intense migraine and fever (<39°), which indicated a common differential diagnostic for this illness. Although many patients have recovered significantly, there’s also a high percentage of the same symptoms that were mentioned above, can still appear long after fighting the infection. It’s very important to mention that although the symptoms aren’t very alarming, they should be monitored to be able to properly control the developing and existence of a coinfection with a different pathology that might influence the sickness into death. It’s important to mention that from the first moment the Chikungunya was registered, the information that was spread grew exponentially which created a human public health problem, because there was a growing number of people affected. However, there isn’t an antivirus that can be given to the patients to receive a proper treatment for the illness, anyhow, the constant care to ease the symptoms with antipyretic to reduce fever and pain killers to mitigate any articulate pain in the meantime during the symptomatic phase. The Chikungunya lasts between three to seven days after the infected mosquito bite and this process can last between two to twelve days. Therefore, to prevent any mosquito bites in the future, it’s important to know a couple of recommendations, such as: do not keep any water in any container so there isn’t a mosquito bed, cover the water tanks or water storage, do not hoard any garbage, use window, door, and for the beds with people infected with this virus to avoid any new vectors or spreading of the virus to the family or persons close to it.