Dengue and Chikungunya Prevention: 5 Symptoms and Treatment Tips

Dengue and Chikungunya: A Quick Comparison

Dengue is a viral infection that causes high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, rash and, in some cases, a dangerous fall in platelets and bleeding or plasma leakage (severe dengue).

Chikungunya is also viral. It causes sudden high fever and intense joint pain, especially in the hands, wrists, ankles and feet, with swelling, rash and fatigue. The name means "that which bends up", describing the stooped posture of people in pain. Joint pain can persist for weeks or months after the fever settles.

Both infections are transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. They are not spread directly from person to person. A mosquito becomes infectious after biting an infected person and can then pass the virus on.

Know the Mosquito: Aedes aegypti

• Appearance: small, dark mosquito with distinct white stripes on legs and body, often called the "tiger mosquito".
• Breeding: it lays eggs in clean, stagnant water, not in drains or dirty water. Even a bottle cap of water can be enough.
• Habitat: it lives close to people, inside and around homes, in flower pots, coolers, buckets, tyres, discarded containers, water tanks and AC trays.
• Biting time: unlike night-biting mosquitoes, Aedes bites mainly during the day, with peaks in the early morning and late afternoon.
• Flight range: it does not travel far, usually within about 100 metres of where it breeds, which is why controlling breeding around your home works.
• Life cycle: eggs hatch into larvae within a few days in water, develop into pupae and emerge as adults in about a week. This is why emptying water once a week breaks the cycle.

Eliminating Breeding Sites at Home

Make "dry day" part of your weekly routine. Choose one day, for example Sunday, to inspect and empty all potential water containers.

1. 1Empty and scrub water coolers, flower pot trays, bird baths and plant saucers weekly. Scrub the sides to remove eggs, then refill with fresh water.
2. 2Drain and dry air conditioner trays, refrigerator trays and any container that collects water.
3. 3Cover water storage tanks, drums, buckets and overhead tanks tightly with lids or fine mesh.
4. 4Dispose of rubbish such as old tyres, tins, plastic cups, coconut shells and bottle caps that can collect rainwater. Store them upside down or covered.
5. 5Check indoor plants such as money plants grown in water. Change the water weekly or grow them in soil.
6. 6Clean roof gutters, terraces, balconies and sunshades where water collects.
7. 7Fill depressions and fix leaks around taps, pipes and construction sites.
8. 8Use larvicide or fish where water cannot be removed, as advised by local health authorities.
9. 9Keep toilet cisterns and bathroom corners dry and covered.
10. 10Remind neighbours and domestic staff, since one untreated source can affect the whole building.

Protecting Yourself From Bites

• Wear full-sleeved shirts and long trousers, especially in the early morning and evening, preferably in light colours.
• Apply mosquito repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin, following label directions. Apply sunscreen first, then repellent.
• Use screens and nets: fit window and door screens, and use bed nets for infants and for anyone resting during the day.
• Use electric vapourisers or coils safely, with ventilation, and not near infants or people with asthma.
• Use air-conditioning or fans when possible, as mosquitoes avoid moving air.
• Avoid peak biting times outdoors, or take extra precautions.
• Protect infants and young children: use nets, avoid repellents on very young babies unless advised, and dress them in covering clothing.
• Protect patients: a person who has dengue or chikungunya should sleep under a net during the first week so that mosquitoes do not bite them and spread the infection to others.

Community Action

• Residents' associations can organise weekly inspections, awareness drives and cleaning of common areas.
• Fogging may reduce adult mosquitoes temporarily but does not remove breeding sites, so it should supplement, not replace, source reduction.
• Construction sites and institutions must cover water, drain pits and prevent stagnation.
• Report neglected water collections to municipal authorities.
• Schools can teach children to look for breeding spots and participate in "dry day" campaigns.

Recognising Early Signs

Dengue often begins suddenly, 4 to 10 days after the bite, with:

• High fever, up to 104°F.
• Severe headache and pain behind the eyes.
• Muscle, bone and joint pain ("breakbone fever").
• Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite.
• Skin rash.
• Mild bleeding such as nosebleeds or gum bleeding.

Chikungunya usually appears 3 to 7 days after the bite, with:

• Sudden high fever.
• Severe joint pain and swelling, often symmetrical, making it hard to walk or hold objects.
• Headache, muscle aches, rash and fatigue.

Warning Signs of Severe Dengue

The critical phase often occurs after the fever falls, around day 3 to 7. Seek urgent hospital care for:

• Severe, persistent abdominal pain.
• Persistent vomiting.
• Bleeding from the nose, gums, or blood in vomit or stool.
• Black stools.
• Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing.
• Cold, clammy skin, restlessness, extreme lethargy or irritability.
• Reduced urination.
• Dizziness or fainting.

What to Do If You Have Symptoms

1. 1See a doctor early, especially if fever lasts more than two days during the season, and get tested as advised. Dengue NS1 antigen is useful in the first days, while antibody tests help later.
2. 2Rest and drink plenty of fluids, such as ORS, coconut water, soups and fruit juices.
3. 3Take paracetamol for fever and pain, as per the dose your doctor advises.
4. 4Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs, which raise the risk of bleeding in dengue.
5. 5Do not take steroids or antibiotics unless prescribed.
6. 6Monitor with your doctor: platelet counts and haematocrit may be checked daily, and the number of tests depends on the stage of illness.
7. 7Do not rely on papaya leaf juice or other unproven remedies to raise platelets. Hydration and monitoring are what matter.
8. 8Protect from bites while ill, to prevent spreading.
9. 9For chikungunya, rest, fluids, paracetamol and gentle movement help. Persistent joint pain may need physiotherapy and medical review.

Special Groups

Children: may become dehydrated quickly and deteriorate fast, so seek early advice for fever with poor feeding, drowsiness or persistent vomiting. Pregnant women: dengue and chikungunya can cause complications, so contact your doctor immediately. Older adults and those with diabetes, heart or kidney disease: are at higher risk of complications.

Vaccines

A dengue vaccine is available in some countries and licensed for specific age groups and settings. Availability and recommendations differ, so ask your doctor whether it is suitable in your case. There is currently no widely available chikungunya vaccine in routine use in India, so prevention rests on mosquito control.

A Seven-Day Home Checklist

• Day 1: walk through the house and balcony and list every item that holds water.
• Day 2: empty, scrub and dry coolers, trays and plant saucers; cover tanks and drums.
• Day 3: clear rubbish, discarded containers and tyres from terraces and compounds.
• Day 4: fit or repair window screens and check bed nets.
• Day 5: talk to neighbours, building staff and domestic helpers about weekly dry days.
• Day 6: stock repellent, paracetamol, oral rehydration salts and a thermometer.
• Day 7: repeat the inspection and make it a weekly habit.

Living With Prolonged Chikungunya Joint Pain

Some people have joint pain for months after chikungunya. Gentle movement, warm compresses, paracetamol and physiotherapy generally help, and a doctor may advise short courses of other medicines. If joints remain swollen, if stiffness lasts beyond three months or if you have a history of rheumatoid arthritis, ask for a review to rule out ongoing inflammatory arthritis. Do not take painkillers regularly without medical advice, since long-term use can harm the stomach and kidneys.

Care at Trustmed Hospital

At Trustmed Hospital in Badshahpur, Gurugram, our general medicine and paediatrics teams evaluate fevers with in-house diagnostics including dengue tests and platelet monitoring, with admission, ICU and emergency care available for severe cases. Book an appointment if fever persists.

Frequently Asked Questions