Chikungunya in pregnancy
Chikungunya in pregnancy
What is chikungunya?
Chikungunya is a viral illness transmitted to people by certain mosquitoes. It's usually short-lived but symptoms can sometimes be severe. Chikungunya is one of a few mosquito-borne illnesses, along with Zika and dengue that can be problematic or even dangerous for pregnant women and babies.
Chikungunya rarely crops up in the United States. Outbreaks have occurred in Africa, Asia, Europe, and more recently, the Caribbean.
In 2014 more than 2,000 cases of chikungunya were found in travelers returning to the United States from affected areas, and 12 locally transmitted cases were reported in Florida. In 2015 about 700 cases in returning travelers were reported in U.S. states (none of them locally transmitted), and about 200 locally transmitted cases were reported in U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
Chikungunya is a particular concern for pregnant women because, in rare cases, they transmit the virus to their baby around the time of birth.
Newborn babies infected with chikungunya are at higher risk for a severe case of the disease. Find out how to protect your baby from chikungunya if you're traveling or living in a place where the illness is common.
Symptoms of chikungunya
The most common symptoms of chikungunya are fever and joint pain, but you may also have headache, muscle pain, swollen joints, or a rash. Most people feel better in a week. Others have joint pain that lasts for months.
How to tell if you have chikungunya
If you're pregnant and think you're having symptoms of chikungunya, call your healthcare provider.
Treatment for chikungunya
There's no medicine for chikungunya. Your provider will probably suggest treating the illness in these simple ways:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration.
- Take acetaminophen to relieve fever and pain. (Don't take NSAIDS like ibuprofen or aspirin.)
How to protect yourself against chikungunya
There's no vaccine for chikungunya. In places where chikungunya or other viruses spread by mosquitoes have been reported, take these steps to avoid getting bitten:
- Use insect repellent. (See our article on which insect repellents are safe during pregnancy.)
- Wear loose cotton clothing that covers your arms and legs.
- Stay in places that have air conditioning or have screens on windows and doors.
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