Chikungunya is the viral infection that is spread by the bite of an Aedes mosquito, that usually bites in daytime. The mosquito usually transmits the disease by biting an infected person and then biting someone else. An infected person cannot spread the infection directly to other persons (i.e. it is not a contagious disease).
Symptoms of Chikungunya
- High fever with backache and severe joints pain with stiffness of joints, the patient is not able to move.
- Headache
- Skin rashes with or without itching
- Severe weakness
- Eye infection with over sensitiveness to light (photophobia)
- Diarrhoea and/or vomiting may develop in some children suffering from chikungunya
As the disease is self-limiting by nature, most of the symptoms subside within 3 weeks from the onset of symptoms. Some of the symptoms may persist for 3 months and even more. Usually 10 – 1 5 % of the patient those who present with severe Chikungunya progress to Subacute or chronic phase.
Chikungunya Treatment in Homeopathy
After observing the fever pattern and its three stages- chill, heat and sweat with details of shivering with chilliness before/during fever, irritability/anxiety/restlessness before/during/after fever, by taking note of associated symptoms like headache, nausea, vomiting and their aggravating and ameliorating factors, desire for water during/after fever the homeopathic medicine is selected and administered to the patient. Such well selected homeopathic medicines have proven very effective to cure the disease and its chronicity in terms of long-lasting joints pain post chikungunya.
Homeopathic Medicines for Chikungunya
I. Eupatorium Perfoliatum
-
- Indicated when excruciating pain in the limbs and muscles is seen associated with fever.
- Severe bone pain. Aching pain in bones of extremities as if they would break with soreness of flesh is marked.
- Perspiration relieves all complaints except headache.
- Much swelling of ankles and feet associated with soreness.
- Patient often complains of great thirst.
II. Rhus Toxicodendron
-
- Indicated in fever with polyarthritis.
- Maculopapular (flat and red) rashes with itching.
- Pain and stiffness in joints, which is aggravated by first movement of joint but gets relief with further continued movements.
- Complaints often worsen in damp weather
III. China
-
- Marked periodical fever.
- Indicated when pain in the limbs are severe and joints feel sprained.
- Patient is very sensitive to slightest touch but feels better by hard pressure.
- Patient complains of debilitating night sweats.
- Excessive flatulence of stomach and bowels.
IV. Arnica
-
- Indicated in fever with delirium and marked redness of body.
- Patient’s head is intensely hot, while the rest of body remains cold.
- There is profuse night sweat.
- Offensiveness of all discharges is a feature that is marked in patients who need this remedy.
- There is a lameness and soreness associated in the joints.
V. Belladonna
-
- High fever with flushed face and severe throbbing headache.
- No thirst during fever.
- Affected joint appears swollen and red.
- Slightest jar, noise and draught of air aggravates complins.
VI. Bryonia
-
- High fever.
- Stitching and tearing joints pain that aggravates after slightest motion and the patient feels better by pressure and rest.
- Excessive dryness of mouth with great thirst.
- Severe constipation.
VII. Cedron
- Marked periodic fever that occurs at same our everyday.
- Lancinating pains in joints mainly feet and hands.
- Tearing and numbness of limbs during fever.
- Especially suited to those who leave in tropical, damp, marshy countries.