Mayaro virus is an arbovirus in the Chikungunya virus family, which causes the onset of an infectious disease, known as Mayaro fever, that causes symptoms such as headache, high fever and joint pain and swelling. Although this disease is little known, Mayaro fever is ancient and more common in the Amazon, being transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Identifying Mayaro virus infection 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 recommends laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis to begin the diagnosis. most appropriate treatment.
- The first symptoms of Mayaro fever appear 1 to 3 days after the Aedes aegypti mosquito bite and vary depending on the person’s immunity.
- Including:.
These signs and symptoms usually go away in about 1 to 2 weeks without any treatment, but joint pain and inflammation may persist for a few months.
Since the symptoms of these three diseases are very similar, they can be difficult to differentiate. Therefore, the best way to differentiate these diseases is by specific laboratory tests, which identify the virus that causes the disease, such as blood tests, viral isolation techniques or molecular biology.
In addition, your doctor should evaluate the person’s symptoms, as well as the history of where they’ve been in the last few days, to find out what your chances are for exposure to the virus.
As with dengue and chikungunya, the treatment of Mayaro fever aims to relieve symptoms and your doctor may recommend the use of analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory medications.
In addition, throughout recovery, it is also recommended to avoid physical exertion, try to relax, get enough sleep, drink at least 2 liters of water a day, in addition to drinking soothing teas such as chamomile or lavender.
The only way to prevent Mayaro fever is to avoid the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, so it is recommended to take certain measures such as:
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.