Chikungunya led to black nose disease in an infant in Chennai which is a rare diagnosed
An infant in Chennai has been diagnosed with a rare black nose disease, a new symptom of chikungunya that gets transmitted through infected Aedes mosquitoes.
Experts say that dark pigmentation that leads to black nose disease arrives after a few weeks of fever.
Also, 1,004 people tested positive for chikungunya cases from June to mid-September this year. Pune-based National Institute of Virology, an apex institute of the Indian Council of Medical Research, tested 3,208 samples of the chikungunya virus where 31.3 percent were positive.
“Most of the samples were referred ones from Pune city and district and a few were from outside Pune district,” Dr Naveen Kumar, director, ICMR-NIV said.
The state has circulated updated guidelines by the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) to manage fever and other symptoms; and appealed to the clinics to send the samples if they find any related symptoms. The state also set a rapid response team.
“Like Dengue, there is no specific antiviral drug for Chikungunya, hence, proper management of cases is of utmost importance,” Dr Radhakrishna Pawar, Joint Director, Health, Maharashtra said.
“We have also urged clinicians to send samples to NIV and B J Government Medical College (BJMC) for sequencing,” Dr Rajesh Dighe, Assistant medical chief, Pune Municipal Corporation said.
New symptoms:
A month-old baby girl in Chennai developed a black patch around her nose after 15 days of her being born.
The baby is healthy but has a fever and irritability with black patches around the nose.
Doctors assess it as the post hyperpigmentation, known as black nose disease.
“We do not know why there is hyperpigmentation of the tip of the nose as well as ears, but we have seen these cases in large numbers in patients across age groups. Also, unlike the typical presentation of chikungunya which comes with fever and joint pains, we are seeing many cases come with maculopapular rashes on the face, hands, and legs. These rashes on the face, hands, and legs. These rashes are very itchy too,” said Dr K Shivaraju, senior consultant
Other unusual symptoms like rashes, loss of taste or altered taste and drop in platelets can also be seen in large numbers.
Maximum number of cases are from:
- 68 cases fromYerwada- Kalas Dhanori
- 39 cases from Nagar Road-Wadgaon Sheri
3. 31 cases from Ghole-Road Shivajinagar
4. 21 cases from Kasba-Vishrambaug Wada
5.19 cases from Dholepatil ward
6. 16 cases from Aundh-Baner
7. 15 cases from Bhawani Peth
