By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Chikungunya

The number of chikungunya cases in Thailand has risen to 6113, an increase of some 400 in the past week, according to the Bureau of Epidemiology (BOE). Cases have now been reported in 67 of the 77 Thai provinces.

Aedes aegypti/CDC

The provinces with the highest prevalence include Chanthaburi, Uthai Thani, Lamphun and Trat.

No deaths have been recorded.

Symptoms of chikungunya disease usually begin 3–7 days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. Most people infected with chikungunya virus develop some symptoms. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms can include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.

The symptoms of chikungunya disease are similar to those of dengue and Zika. Dengue and Zika are two other diseases spread by the same mosquitoes that transmit chikungunya.

Chikungunya disease does not often result in death, but the symptoms can be severe and disabling. And even though most patients feel better within a week, others may have joint pain that lasts for months.

Aedes aegypti mosquito

Dengue

Since the beginning of the year, the BOE has recorded 41,415 dengue fever cases from all 77 provinces, including 31 deaths. This total is up from 28,300 cases one month ago.

Provinces reporting the highest incidence include Mae Hong Son, Chaiyaphum, Rayong, Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen.

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. There are four closely related but antigenically different serotypes of the virus that can cause dengue (DEN1, DEN 2, DEN 3, DEN 4).

Dengue Fever (DF) – marked by an onset of sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and pain in muscles and joints. Some may also have a rash and varying degree of bleeding from various parts of the body (including nose, mouth and gums or skin bruising).Dengue has a wide spectrum of infection outcome (asymptomatic to symptomatic). Symptomatic illness can vary from dengue fever (DF) to the more serious dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) – is a more severe form, seen only in a small proportion of those infected. DHF is a stereotypic illness characterized by 3 phases; febrile phase with high continuous fever usually lasting for less than 7 days; critical phase (plasma leaking) lasting 1-2 days usually apparent when fever comes down, leading to shock if not detected and treated early; convalescence phase lasting 2-5 days with improvement of appetite, bradycardia (slow heart rate), convalescent rash (white patches in red background), often accompanied by generalized itching (more intense in palms and soles), and diuresis (increase urine output).

Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) — Shock syndrome is a dangerous complication of dengue infection and is associated with high mortality. Severe dengue occurs as a result of secondary infection with a different virus serotype. Increased vascular permeability, together with myocardial dysfunction and dehydration, contribute to the development of shock, with resultant multiorgan failure.