title: An overview of Chikungunya virus.
abstract: Chikungunya fever is a viral infection caused by the Chikungunya virus that causes abrupt onset of fever, debilitating arthralgias and myalgias, and some rare but serious atypical presentations in infected patients. This mosquito-borne virus may not be familiar to North American healthcare providers. This article describes the causes, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic and screening measures, management guidelines, and future research prospects for Chikungunya infection.
authors.affiliation: Mitchell Busch is a recent graduate of the PA program at Mercer University in Atlanta, Ga., and practices emergency medicine at Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale, Ga. Gerald Erickson was an associate clinical coordinator and clinical assistant professor in the PA program at Mercer University when this article was written. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Erickson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000821:virology; D065632:Chikungunya Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000635:transmission; D002646:Chikungunya virus; D009033:Culicidae; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors; D063806:Myalgia / Q000821:virology