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    What is Chikungunya and What Are Its Symptoms?

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    Spread by the same mosquito that transmits dengue, Chikungunya causes fever and body aches, but it is the intense joint pain that makes it unique and often harder to recover from.

    How It Differs from Dengue

    As Dr. Roshni Jhan Ganguly explained in our latest podcast with Dhruv Gupta, Co-founder of Orange Health Labs, both dengue and Chikungunya are carried by the Aedes mosquito, but they come from different viruses. Depending on which virus the mosquito carries, it can transmit either illness.

    Watch the video here

    While both conditions cause fever and body aches, Chikungunya stands out for its severe joint pain. The virus targets the synovial fluid and outer covering of the joints, causing inflammation, stiffness, and tenderness. This can make the pain more disabling than the muscle aches seen in dengue.

    Recovery and Lingering Effects

    A mild case of Chikungunya may resolve in 7-10 days, but the joint pain often lingers. Many people experience 6-8 months of discomfort, which, while not life-threatening, can affect daily activities and quality of life.

    Takeaway

    Chikungunya may appear similar to dengue at first, but its joint-related symptoms set it apart. Recognising these differences helps with timely diagnosis and appropriate care.

    We explore this further in Episode 10 of The Orange Club Podcast: The Truth About Monsoon Diseases: What Causes Malaria, Dengue & Chikungunya

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