- Main signs and symptoms
- How the treatment is done
- Mayaro Fever Prevention
- How to differentiate Mayaro Fever from Dengue or Chikungunya
Mayaro fever is an infectious disease caused by the Mayaro virus, an arbovirus of the virus family that transmits Chikungunya fever, and which leads to the appearance of symptoms such as headache, severe and sudden fever, pain and swelling in the joints, for example. Although this disease is little known, Mayaro fever is old and is more frequent in the Amazon region.
The identification of infection by the Mayaro virus is difficult because the symptoms of the disease are similar to those of dengue and Chikungunya, and it is important that the general practitioner or infectious disease specialist recommend laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Main signs and symptoms
The first symptoms of Mayaro's fever appear 1 to 3 days after the bite of the mosquito infected with the virus and vary according to the person's immunity and the amount of viral particles that have been inoculated. The main signs indicative of Mayaro fever are:
- Sudden fever; General tiredness; Red spots on the skin; Headache; Joint pain and swelling, which may take months to disappear. Sensitivity or intolerance to light.
The signs and symptoms usually disappear in about 1 to 2 weeks without any treatment, however the pain and swelling in the joints can remain for a few months.
How the treatment is done
As with dengue and Chikungunya, the treatment for Mayaro fever aims to relieve symptoms, and the use of analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs may be recommended by the doctor.
In addition, during the entire recovery, it is also recommended to avoid making physical efforts, to relax, to sleep a lot, to drink at least 2 liters of water a day, in addition to drinking calming teas such as chamomile or lavender.
Mayaro Fever Prevention
The only way to prevent Mayaro Fever is to avoid mosquito bites by taking measures to protect yourself, such as:
- Eliminate all standing water that can serve for mosquito breeding; Put protective screens on windows and mosquito nets on the bed to sleep; Use repellents on the body or in the environment daily to keep the mosquito away; Keep empty bottles or buckets facing down; Place earth or sand in the dishes of the plant pots; Wear long pants and closed shoes, to avoid being bitten on the legs and feet.
In addition, to protect yourself it is also important to know how to identify the mosquito that transmits these diseases. Learn how to identify and combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
How to differentiate Mayaro Fever from Dengue or Chikungunya
As the symptoms of these three diseases are very similar, they can be difficult to differentiate. Therefore, the best way to differentiate these diseases is through specific laboratory tests, which allow the identification of the virus that causes the disease, such as blood tests, viral isolation or molecular biology techniques.
In addition, the doctor must assess the symptoms presented by the person, as well as the history of where he has been in the past few days to find out what the chances of having been exposed to the virus.
