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KNOW MORE ABOUT CHICKUN GUNYA ; ( Chikungunya upda
Wednesday, July 19th, 2006, 8:43 am [General]
i KNOW IT BECAUSE I SUFFERED FROM IT!
write to me for details doctor@mtnl.net.in
Its an emerging epidemic in India, currently spread into many districts of andhra pradesh and maharashtra and karnataka affecting thousands of people each day.
Its falsly called as chicken gunya or chickengunya.. but it has no correlation with chickens. The confusion was created as the infection came simultaneusly withg bird flue in India.
Other names: Chikungunya (from the Swahili word for "stooped walk," or "that which bends up" depending on who you believe, referring to the posture of a person suffering from the disease)
Its also called as aakdya (stiffness) and maakdya (ape gait), in local languages in India.
Also called as CHIK.
how does chickungunya spread?
Virus is an arbovirus, spreads through arthropode vector the Aedes Egypti tiger mosquito, the same as Dengue or Yellow fever.
how does it (Chikungunya) manifest?
It causes more of morbidity and less of mortality.
Illness is more debilitating and causes significant discomfort.
Deaths are not common.
Children and pregnants are more vulnerable.
symptoms
starts with sudden onset fever.
fever can be of high grade upto 102 F.
Continuous fever.. with partial relief by medicines.
Also there is significant muscle stiffness, myalgia and joint pains involving various joints mainly ankle and knees.
Rarely it has swollen small joints.
Symptoms usually last for 3 days,
but some joint pain or myalgia persists upto 2 weeks-2months.
Body platelet count decreases in some cases manifesting as petichae while there is also neutropenia at times.
All investigations may also be normal.
Treatment
Conservative and symptomatic
Bed rest
analgesics: sustained release diclofenac daily,or ibuprofen.
good diet
watch for bleeding tendencies / petichae ..
if any; will require blood component supplements.
KNOW MORE ABOUT CHICKUN GUNYA ; Chikungunya
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Dr Kondekar Santosh venketraman
Pediatrician
Seth GS Medical College and
KEM Hospital Mumbai
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hi there.
Nice to help you out in the context of chicken gunya.
I am a pediatrician at KEM Hospital Mumbai; as far as i Know ther are no cases of the same documented in Mumbai yet!
May be I was the first case of the same in Mumbai; as I acquired the infection in endemic area in April end and I suffered from the disease in May when I came to Mumbai. It does have a potential to spread in Mumbai; as the mosquitoes that spread the disease are toger mosquitoes and also the same as those for Dengue fever.. the AEdes Egypti mosquito and the tiger mosquito.
For your surprise, this illness had travelled along the eastern coasts of India.. the shores.from Vishakhapattanam to tamil chennai area; the first cases of this illness in India; are reported from these areas.
As per the Reports of The HIndu released early this year, chikun gunya had already spread its area in most of AP and TN by the beginning of this year.
The government officials apparantly tried to suppress the outbreak by not declaring it; but when it went out of proportions... and the national virology institute confirmed it as Chicken Gunya.
The symptoms were classical; mentioned at my website; the villages and colonies get affcted in crops with high fever and joint pains; children and elderly being affected most; but hardl;y and danger to life. Fever is very high and continuous to suspect any serious illness for a person who is not aware of this epidemic. Sometimes rash or petichae are seen due to deficiency of platelets, blood cells also get reduced, but alls ettles with supportive therapy as mentioned at site http://drpeds.blogspot.com
Local Goverments are still denying the epidemics as it can be a huge failure for health ministry.. for not controlling the mosquitoes.
By april most of marathwada was involved; if you visist any village/town especially in latur nanded area; the locals will narrate their experiences, because almost 60% of population was involved.
As far as I know, sporadic cases are seen in Nashik and Bhiwandi and Pune; but it has a high potential for rapid spread in mUmbai, considering the people turnover from these areas harbouring these small mosquitoes. ( malarial mosquitoes dont cause chicken gunya, so big mosquitoes which are known for causing malaria dont cause chicken gunya, so for mumbai and new mumbai where malaria is tooo much; its difficult for chicken gunya to spread easily.
well for any more info; please feel free to call 9869405747.
I know all this info cant have proofs, so i ask govt to pardon me if they or somebody disagrees.
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About Me
Name:SANTOSH KONDEKAR
Location:Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
yes! the easily approachable, friendly and understanding pediatrician.
http://drpeds.blogspot.com
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Managing Fever In Children
Wednesday, July 19th, 2006, 8:22 am [General]
caring for kids, their health and illness
Any rise in temperature is a discomfort.. and above 101F it becomes intolerable... and hence requires treatment.
'Highest level of tolerable temp' has no clinical significance as some children show symptoms of hyperpyrexia even at 103 F. and it varies from person to person.
The question is whether do we need to treat the fever?
fever upto 101F should be watched.. as it may get cured spontaneusly and it can cure the disease at times.
High fever in children, can at times turn lethal; so observing without treatment is no wise.
How do we manage:
1.Switch on Fan /AC, not directed towards pt, air in room should be free flow.
2.take clothes off.. no blankets... a common question always asked is what to do if child is shivering...? The answer is child may shiver.. we may give blanket for 1o min only.. as shivering doesnt last longer and fever starts rising after shiver if a blanket is given. Also shivering is protective while fever may be harmful. SO do take the vlanket off by 10 min... can repeat same.
3. Give an oral antipyretic. In viral infections and malarial fever , the myalgia plays a significant role... so its better to use a combination with ibuprofen or only ibuprofen.. more symptomatic relief. wait for 10 min.
4. Fever coming down : observe. Fever not coming down: start sponging.
5. Sponging tricks : Keep fan on. dont get scared of shivering. Dont use ice or cold water (why? : its not required ! and it has a risk of ppting hypothermia in children.. children are scared of cold when febrile) use a wet hanky /turkish towel, make it wet.. remove excess water.. spread it over the trunk and tummy... cover maximum surface area, faster relief; till it dries off or becomes hot.. then change the towel, repeat same till temp comes down. Forehead sponging: Most of the times not reqd.. as it carries undue emphasis from movies.. and covers small area. Parents may restrict sponging only to forehead. TricK: make scalp wet, let the forehead towel cover eyes.. that avoids pricking sensation in eyes.
6. wait another 10 minutes.. temp same or falling... observer and continue. If temperature rising.. try injectable paracetamol... by this we are just increasing the dose of PCM, changing route is only bcos child wont be in a position to take oral; one may try rectal.. equally effective.
7. Treat the cause of fever !!
Why prompt relief of fever reqd?
Annoying symptom, discomfort, feb seizure... hyperpyrexic brain damage.
what a parent would like to know about his kid fro
Wednesday, July 19th, 2006, 8:20 am [General]
Always ask: Layman questions:
what is my child suffering from?
Is it common? how common?
Is it serious? How serious?
nothing to worry... some thing to worry.. or critical?
any danger to life or ability?
Does it require medicines- /hospitalisation? how long? will it require a change of medicines? whats its chance?
Effect within how many hours... if no relief then what?
what i am supposed to do to keep it in check?
what parameters to monitor?
when should i consult back? or when to worry?
Anything to prevent the same?
Can it be this and that?
can he have day to day food and activities in this period?
Most of your questions are answered by your doc in first visit unless he has a very busy schedule.. and if you cant get answer even after asking these quieries then better change your doc.
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Avoid medical terminologies unless the child is suffering from a permanant or known disease.
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The more you fall in medical terminologies; more you get confused and the more you can complicate management by correlating many things together unless you or a family member is a doctor.
The reports will confuse you more...
and many times they dont need to lead to any conclusion and you worry - what your child is having can be dangerous..
Believe in your pediatrician, clear all misunderstandings !!
ask him clinical queries-
be more concerned about child (health and disease), diet and medicines rather than biochemistry and pathophysiology.
Leave the interpretation of tests to your pediatrician
and
make a list of queries and get answered from your doc in single sitting.. or another for another list.
We respect your doubt to get the management confirmed by another pediatrician; you are welcome.
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