Prevalence of chikungunya in urban field practice area of a private medical college, chennai

• Published in: Indian journal of community medicine Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 124 - 127
• Main Authors: Balasubramaniam, Sudharsanam M, Krishnakumar, J, Stephen, Thattiparthi, Gaur, Rashmi, Appavoo, Nc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.04.2011; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Chikungunya; Chikungunya fever; Diagnosis; health-seeking behavior; Medicine; Original; Practice; prevalence; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); sequelae; India; Chikungunya; prevalence; sequelae; health-seeking behavior
• ISSN: 0970-0218; 1998-3581
• DOI: 10.4103/0970-0218.84131

The outbreak of Chikungunya in India started during December 2005 with more than 11,00,000 cases. Many cases with symptoms suggestive of Chikungunya reported to our urban health-training centre. Hence this study was done to estimate the prevalence of Chikungunya, to study the common treatment-seeking behavior, control measures and the sequalae of Chikungunya by follow-up. This cross-sectional study was done in Anagaputhur an urban field practice area of our college. The study was done on a sample selected by systematic random sampling. Any person with fever and joint pain, with an onset from 1 August 2006 to 31 August 2006, were enrolled as cases. The cases were followed up after three months. Chikungunya prevalence in the community was 22.3%; 52% of them were females and 56% of cases were in the 15-44 years age group. Median duration of acute phase was three days. Ninety-one percent of them had multiple joints' involvement. Seventy-eight percent sought treatment from the private sector. Sixty-seven percent reported artificial collections of water around their household and 44% complained of mosquito problems during the day. Eighty-eight percent used mosquito repellents for personal protection. On follow-up 95% of them had residual joint pain, 43% had residual joint swelling and 11% had disabilities with median duration of 30 days. Prevalence of Chikungunya was 22.3%, predominantly affecting the age group of 15-44 years and females. The private sector was commonly sought for treatment. Entomological survey indicated Aedes breeding. Eleven percent had disabilities due to the sequelae.