STUDY OF CLINICAL SPECTRUM OF CHIKUNGUNYA OF RECENT OUTBREAK 2010 IN WESTERN RAJASTHAN AND THEIR 2YR FOLLOW UP

Abstract

Background: Chikungunya virus is a member of the Alphavirus genus of the family
Togaviridae. The Alpha viruses consist of 30 species of arthropod borne viruses, which are
further sub grouped into seven serocomplexes. O'nyong-nyong virus (ONN) is considered to be
closely related to CHIK. The percentage identities of non-structural and structural polyproteins
between CHIK and ONN were 85% compared with 42-70% between CHIK and other alpha
viruses.
AIM: To find out a clinical and laboratory profile during recent outbreak of Chikungunya during
September 2010 in Bikaner (North-Western Rajasthan) and they were followed for 2 years to
know about their complications.
Results: In our study highly significant relation was found between age, number of joints
partially recovered, CRP positivity, raised ESR and persistent arthralgia. In our study CRP was
positive in 17(8.5%) patients in 41-60yr age group,15(7.5%) patients in 20-40 yr age group and
9(4.5%) patients in >60yr age group. In our study we find that mean ESR progressively
increased with duration; the mean ESR was 48.6mm at onset of disease, 55.81mm at one year
and 64.15mm at 2year.In our study all the patients were tested for Rheumatoid factor, among
them 5(2.5%) patients found positive for RF. These all 5 patients had persistent arthralgia and 82
patients having persistent arthralgia were tested for anti CCP antibody, among them 17(20.73%)
patients found positive.
Conclusion: Our findings draw attention to the importance of assessing management issues such
as strategies for supportive treatment of CHIK illness in further studies. Finally, these studies
should be designed in order to estimate the magnitude of chronic rheumatic illness directly
attributable to CHIKV infection and its potential effect on quality of life over a prolonged period.