Fever Season

The fever season is not catching up yet in my place. Usually it peaks in this monsoon season, but the rains are not heavy enough. It may change within few days. It may seem cruel, but doctors like their patients' waiting room well populated. The pharmacies and the Pharmaceutical Companies are also crossing their fingers. For me personally, I wont mind a lean season because that means more leisure time which I need very much.

Unlike last year I see only few patients with Chikungunya fever. Most doctors and even patients are familiar with the disease. So many are getting treated at local dispensary itself.

Chikungunya fever is easily diagnosed in many patients. They will have high fever with chills and shivering of sudden onset. Joint pains with swelling is characteristic especially on the small joints of hand. Fever last for 2 to 4 days only but is usually followed by itchy skin rash.

The joint pains may persist for many weeks and in some persons up to an year.

Only in the elderly patients who are already sick with various other ailments that Chikungunya can be lethal. They have to hospitalised and closely monitored. Treatment is mainly supportive and death is rare.

Dengue fever and Rat fever [Leptospirosis] are more difficult to diagnose and treat. Fortunately both are not so common.