Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
06:18
Multiplexed Isothermal Amplification Based Diagnostic Platform to Detect Zika, Chikungunya, and Dengue 1
Published on: March 13, 2018
[Chikungunya virus infections in children]
1Urgences pédiatriques, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Hôpital Archet 2, 151 Route de Saint-Antoine-de-Ginestière, 06202 Nice cedex 03, France. haas.h@chu-nice.fr
Summary
Chikungunya fever, a mosquito-borne illness, causes severe joint pain and can lead to serious complications in children. Early diagnosis and intensive care are crucial for managing this potentially fatal arbovirosis.
Area of Science:
- Virology: Focuses on Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an alphavirus within the Togaviridae family.
- Epidemiology: Investigates arbovirosis transmission by Aedes mosquitoes and global outbreak potential.
Context:
- Chikungunya fever presents as a debilitating flu-like illness, primarily characterized by severe arthralgia.
- While often milder in children, severe complications like encephalopathy and cutaneous issues pose fatality risks.
- Vertical transmission from mother to child is a documented risk, particularly with high maternal viremia.
Purpose:
- To detail the clinical manifestations of Chikungunya fever, including its impact on different age groups.
- To highlight diagnostic methods, such as RT-PCR for CHIKV RNA and MAC-Elisa for IgM antibodies.
- To underscore the public health threat posed by CHIKV outbreaks in regions with Aedes mosquito proliferation.
Summary:
- Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) causes a severe febrile illness with disabling arthralgia, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.
- Severe manifestations, including neurological and cutaneous complications, can occur, especially in infants, with potential fatality.
- Diagnosis involves detecting viral RNA or specific antibodies; the disease is notifiable due to epidemic potential.
Impact:
- The 2005-2006 Indian Ocean epidemic demonstrated CHIKV's capacity for large-scale outbreaks.
- Established endemicity of Aedes albopictus in France signifies a real risk of CHIKV introduction and local transmission.
- Increased awareness and surveillance are vital for public health preparedness in endemic and at-risk areas.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV), a member of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted primarily by Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and South America. After transmission through a mosquito bite, the virus initially replicates in skin-resident immune cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages. These cells then migrate to the lymph nodes, where viral replication increases, eventually leading to...
01:25Arboviral Encephalitis
Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
01:17Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...
01:27Cytomegalovirus Disease
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
01:19Encephalitis l: Introduction
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
01:20Chickenpox
Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Its transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with vesicular fluid from skin lesions. The incubation period typically ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which the virus replicates and disseminates through sequential phases within the host. Although generally self-limiting in children,...