[chandrakumar]

I live in Chennai, India. I had a kid of 6 months. Last year, when my wife is carrying my child, we both suffered from Chicken Gunya. It's a horrible experience. Now I am worried how to protect my child from Chicken Guniya, since rains as well as musquitos have already started. Please give me suggession.

[J_9]

The only way you can prevent your child from getting Chikungunya (just a different spelling that what you have above) is to use mosquito repellant containing NNDB or DEET if your child is above one year of age. I am not sure if I understand your child's age. Is it indeed 6 months old currently? If so, you need to avoid the NNDT and DEET, but continue to use other repellants. Dressing your child in long sleeves and long pants during the mosquito season is also helpful.

Also make sure that there is no stagnant water where the mosquitoes can breed.

[Superfly999]

Taken from Wikipedia.com

Preventive measures
The most effective means of prevention are those that protect against any contact with the disease-carrying mosquitos. These include using insect repellent containing NNDB or DEET or permethrin or Arnywear, wearing long sleeves and trousers (pants), and securing screens on windows and doors. It's also important to empty stagnant water where mosquitoes breed.

It does help eradicting the larvae of mosquitos, by breeding dragonfly . Often chikungunya and dengue fever co-exist, and have to be picked up by a high index of suspicion.


Treatment
There is no specific treatment for Chikungunya. Vaccine trials were carried out in 2000, but funding for the project was discontinued and there is no vaccine currently available. A serological test for Chikungunya is available from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Chloroquine is gaining ground as a possible treatment for the symptoms associated with Chikungunya and as an antiviral agent to combat the Chikungunya virus. According to the University of Malaya, "In unresolved arthritis refractory to aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chloroquine phosphate (250 mg/day) has given promising results." Research by Italian scientist, Andrea Savarino, and his colleagues in addition a French government press release in March 2006 have added more credence to the claim that chloroquine may be effective in treating Chikungunya. The CDC fact sheet on Chikungunya advises against using Aspirin. Ibuprofen, Naproxen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended for arthritic pain and fever.

Infected persons should limit further exposure to mosquito bites, stay indoors and under a mosquito net. Further, "supportive care with rest is indicated during the acute joint symptoms. Movement and mild exercise tend to improve stiffness and morning arthralgia, but heavy exercise may exacerbate rheumatic symptoms." Arthralgia remains troublesome even after 8 months.