Key points
- Chikungunya virus infection can cause an illness with fever and joint pain.
- If you think you or a family member might have chikungunya, talk with your healthcare provider.
- There is no specific treatment for chikungunya.
- Rest, fluids, and pain medicines might relieve symptoms.
Symptoms
Most people infected with chikungunya virus will develop some symptoms. Symptoms usually begin 3-7 days after an infected mosquito bites you.
- The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain.
- Other symptoms can include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.
- Other symptoms can include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.
- People at risk for more severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults (≥65 years), and people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease.
- Most patients feel better within a week. However, joint pain can be severe and disabling and might persist for months.
- Death from chikungunya is rare.
Diagnosis
See your healthcare provider if you have visited an area where chikungunya virus is found and have symptoms described above.
- Tell your healthcare provider when and where you traveled.
- Your healthcare provider might order blood tests to look for chikungunya or other similar viruses like dengue and Zika.
To learn more about testing, visit our Healthcare Providers page.
Treatment
- There are currently no medicines to treat chikungunya.
- Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain medicines can relieve some symptoms.
- Take medicine such as acetaminophen or paracetamol to reduce fever and pain.
- Do not take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen, until dengue can be ruled out to reduce the risk of bleeding.
- Take medicine such as acetaminophen or paracetamol to reduce fever and pain.
- If you have chikungunya, prevent mosquito bites for the first week of your illness.
- During the first week of illness, chikungunya virus can be found in the blood. The virus can be passed from an infected person to a mosquito through mosquito bites.
- An infected mosquito can then spread the virus to other people.
- During the first week of illness, chikungunya virus can be found in the blood. The virus can be passed from an infected person to a mosquito through mosquito bites.
To learn more about treatment, visit our Healthcare Providers page.