SYMPTOMS OF CHIKUNGUNYA
JOINT PAIN AND HIGH FEVER ARE HALLMARKS OF CHIKUNGUNYA DISEASE15
As many as 75% of those infected with chikungunya virus are symptomatic.15,16
Symptoms of chikungunya may be similar to those of other infections such as malaria, typhoid and dengue, making diagnosis difficult.3,17
FOLLOWING ILLNESS, INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ACUTE INFECTIONS MAY PROGRESS TO CHRONIC DISEASE4,15,18
Acute phase
The acute phase is most often characterized by a sudden onset of high fever and joint pain.6,15
Other symptoms may include: 6,15
- Headache
- Myalgia
- Conjunctivitis
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rashes
| 3–7 days | symptoms typically begin after a bite from an infected mosquito15 |
| 5–7 days | virus is present in the bloodstream19 |
| 7–10 days | acute symptoms typically resolve15 |
Chronic phase
Results from a systematic review/meta-analysis show that 43% of chikungunya patients did not recover after 3 months (n=6532).
Chronic disease is characterized by joint pain, which can be debilitating and last for months to years.3,4,20,21
Although studies report varying rates of long-term symptoms, all highlight the physical and potentially chronic burden of chikungunya in some patients:
- In one report, 173 individuals were identified with chikungunya virus, of whom 78.6% reported persisting musculoskeletal symptoms after 2 years4,21,22
- Further data showed that up to 72% of patients with early significant improvement may relapse, the interval lasting from 1 week to several years, presenting with variable symptoms and affecting the same joints that had previously been affected.21
- Chronic joint symptoms may include oligo- or polyarthralgia of variable intensity, usually symmetric, mainly in wrists, hands, ankles and knees, and are associated with morning stiffness and joint swelling.21
The histopathological changes in the synovial tissue following chikungunya virus infection resemble those observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or other chronic inflammatory joint diseases.21
SEVERE JOINT PAIN FROM THE CHIKUNGUNYA VIRUS CAN LAST FOR MONTHS OR YEARS FOLLOWING INFECTION.3,4,20
IXCHIQ™ does not treat chikungunya or its symptoms, or complications such as chronic musculoskeletal symptoms, including debilitating joint pain, joint swelling and morning stiffness.